HOME DEPARTMENT

Mobile Phones

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been charged with offences in relation to the use of mobile phones while driving since the new measures were introduced.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of people charged is not collected centrally.
	Prosecution data for the new offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone will not be available until the autumn of 2004.

DEFENCE

Iraq

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access to legal representation is available to persons detained by United Kingdom forces in Iraq under Article 78 of the IV Geneva Convention (1949); what criteria are used to determine whether they continue to pose a threat to security; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As set out in Article 80 of Geneva Convention IV internees retain their full civil capacity. This principle is reflected in Article 113 which provides, inter alia, that the Detaining Power shall provide all reasonable facilities for the transmission of wills, powers of attorney, letters of authority, or any other documents intended for internees or despatched by them. The Detaining Power is also obliged to facilitate the execution and authentication in due legal form of such documents on behalf of internees, in particular allowing them to consult a lawyer. In accordance with these provisions the United Kingdom provides access to legal advice when requested by an internee for such matters. The UK does not specifically provide for legal advice to be available to internees.
	A review is carried out after 10, 28 and thereafter every 90 days to determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, internment is necessary for reasons of security. In accordance with Article 78 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, the review takes into account all of the evidence and intelligence available relating to an internee.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on quick impact projects authorised by the UK military command in the (a) first 100 days and (b) six months following the end of high intensity military operations in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: $5.3 million was spent on quick impact projects authorised by the United Kingdom military command in the first six months following the end of high intensity military operations in Iraq, of which $1.1 million was spent in the first 100 days.

Iraq

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was informed that the 45-minute assertion related to battlefield mortar shells or small calibre weaponry.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he was informed that the 45-minute claim related to battlefield weapons.

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he first became aware to which Iraqi weapons the 45-minute claim in the Iraq's weapons of mass destruction dossier applied.

Geoff Hoon: I first became aware of 'the 45-minute claim' when I read drafts of the Government's dossier and the Joint Intelligence Committee's assessment dated 9 September 2002. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) in their report of 9 September 2003 (cm 5972) published, at paragraph 50, the relevant passage from the assessment. This stated:
	"Intelligence also indicates that chemical and biological munitions could be with military units and ready for firing within 20 to 45 minutes."
	The ISC also commented (para 57):
	"The JIC did not know precisely which munitions could be deployed from where to where and the context of the intelligence was not included in the JIC Assessment".
	I became aware that this intelligence referred to battlefield weapons soon after the publication of the Government's dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the incidents for which Boards of Inquiry have been initiated since the commencement of military operations in Iraq; and which such Boards have reported.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 February 2004
	I assume that the question is seeking information on those incidents in Iraq that occurred during recent operations there.
	Boards of Inquiry have been convened to inquire into the following incidents: Royal Navy
	Collision of two Sea Kings from 849 Naval Air Squadron on 22 March 2003; and
	Death of Marine Maddison on 30 March 2003.
	Internal reports have been issued into both incidents.
	Army
	Death of Lance-Corporal Brierley on 30 March 2003;
	Deaths of Lieutenant Tweedie and Lance-Corporal Shearer on 1 April 2003;
	Death of Private Smith on 13 August 2003; and
	a Board of Inquiry will be convened on Friday 13 February into a serious injury suffered by Lance-Corporal Stesel on 6 April 2003
	No formal reports have yet been issued. RAF
	Patriot/Tornado GR4 incident on 23 March 2003.
	No formal report has yet been issued.
	Further Boards of Inquiry may be convened into other incidents when the relevant initial investigations are complete.

Iraq

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on embedding in the Iraq war.

Adam Ingram: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the embedding of journalists as war correspondents with our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq.
	I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 10.11 on page 59 of the MOD publication "Operations in Iraq: lessons for the future" which was published on 11 December. A copy of this publication has been deposited in the Library of the House and is available for reference.

Iraq

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the Government's full response to the National Audit Office's investigation report into Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 26 January 2004
	Departments do not publish full responses directly to National Audit Office reports.
	In due course, the Public Accounts Committee will issue a report into Operation Telic. That report will be informed by the National Audit Office's investigation report. After the Public Accounts Committee report has been issued, the Government will issue a response (in the form of a Treasury minute) within the normal timeframe and in the normal way.

Military Assistance (Asia)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance has been provided to (a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kazakhstan, (d) Kyrgyzstan, (e) Pakistan, (f) Georgia and (g) Azerbaijan since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All these countries are situated in a region of increasing strategic importance to the United Kingdom. The UK has small but carefully focused programmes of bilateral co-operation with most of them facilitated by our resident Defence Attachés.
	The UK's military assistance to Uzbekistan has focused on training and advice to assist the Uzbekistan Ministry of Defence with its defence reform efforts. It has stressed the importance of respect for the rule of law and human rights, and has included English language training and assistance with the development of junior staff officer and NCO training. The UK also provided a modest amount of military aid to Uzbekistan in March 2002—100 combat helmets and 15 mine detectors.
	The UK provides no military assistance to Turkmenistan apart from a small English language training programme.
	The UK's military assistance to Kazakhstan has focused on training and advice to help enhance Kazakhstan's peacekeeping capability and support its defence reform efforts. It has included English language training and assistance with the development of NCO training.
	Military assistance to Kyrgyzstan has centred on English language training and assistance with mountain patrolling techniques. The UK also provided a modest amount of military aid to Kyrgyzstan in March 2002—100 combat helmets and 15 mine detectors.
	The UK has close historical ties with the armed forces of Pakistan. Over the past four years Pakistan has received military assistance in the form of places on training courses in the UK at the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and other Service establishments. In Pakistan the UK has provided assistance with flight safety and military band training and has agreed to respond to Pakistani requests for emergency humanitarian escape and rescue assistance for their small submarine fleet.
	UK military assistance to Georgia has focused on training and advice to help defence reform. Our efforts concentrate on advisory visits and have included English language training and assistance with the development of NCO training. Defence reform is also supported by a UK Civilian Special Defence Adviser to the Georgian Ministry of Defence and a resettlement programme which re-trains retired service personnel.
	The UK's military assistance to Azerbaijan has been confined to English language training.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether enhanced body armour is issued to all British troops operating in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Yes.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what personal protection clothing is issued to British troops operating in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: All troops in Afghanistan are issued with a Kevlar helmet and Enhanced Combat Body Armour. They are also issued a S10 respiration. Sufficient Individual Protection Equipment is also held in theatre for all deployed troops.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) quantity and (b) type of radar equipment is deployed for British troops to use in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding the information required in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans there are for Eurocorps to take over the NATO International Security Assistance Force operation in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what plans there are for Eurocorps to assume command of the Kabul Multi-national Brigade.

Adam Ingram: No decisions have been made on deploying Eurocorps to Afghanistan.

Aircraft Carriers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will agree the (a) final projected costs and (b) demonstration and manufacturer contracting arrangements for the aircraft carrier programme.

Adam Ingram: The Future Carrier (CVF) programme is currently in Stage 3 of the Assessment Phase. It is expected that a decision on the CVF programme will be made in Spring this year at the conclusion of the Assessment Phase.

Aircraft Carriers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date is of the two new aircraft carriers; what estimates were made when the contract was let; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the difference.

Adam Ingram: The CVF programme is still in the Assessment Phase, which is intended to reduce risk in emerging design solutions, and balance the key parameters of performance, time and cost. The current target acquisition cost for the two carriers is around £3 billion with target in-service dates of 2012 and 2015. Estimates are being refined during the Assessment Phase, taking into account the maturing design and cost information. Agreed targets will be included in the demonstration and manufacturing contract arrangements.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of (a) the cost and (b) the in-service dates of each of the two future aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The CVF programme is still in the Assessment Phase, which is intended to reduce risk in emerging design solutions and balance the key parameters of performance time and cost. The current target acquisition cost for the two carriers is around £3 billion with target in-service dates of 2012 and 2015 respectively.

Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposals for reform of (a) the pension scheme and (b) the compensation scheme in the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill are (i) individually cost-neutral and (ii) cost-neutral combined; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The costs of the new Armed Forces pension and compensation schemes have been and will continue to be assessed individually. However, there are links between the two schemes, as income payments from the pension and associated early departure schemes are offset against the loss of earnings income payments in the compensation scheme. Both schemes are considered to be broadly cost-neutral when compared with current provision. Benefits will be paid against entitlement from centrally management Government funds.

Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the estimate produced by the Royal British Legion of the likely number of cases that would fail under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill under (a) the proposed balance of probability test, (b) the proposed time limits for compensation claims and (c) both.

Ivor Caplin: I have been in correspondence with the Royal British Legion about its assessment of the combined effect on recent War Pension claims of the changes planned for the new compensation scheme to time limits and standard of proof. We do not accept the Royal British Legion's analysis, which was based on a sample which was not representative of the full spectrum of claims. Nor do we accept that data for the time lapse between leaving service and making a claim under the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) can be extrapolated to the new scheme. We expect the timing of claims under the new scheme to take account of the time limit.
	No work has been undertaken to assess how the particular provisions in the new scheme for time limits and standard of proof would have affected the decisions that we have taken on claims under the War Pension Scheme. Rather, our approach has been to consider the future requirement for a compensation scheme from first principles. We have sought to design a scheme which offers fair and proportionate compensation to anyone who, within a sensible timescale, can provide reasonable evidence that they are suffering from a condition due to service. The scheme will allow claims for specified late-onset conditions outside the limit, and will provide for exceptional review and an independent appeals tribunal. An independent review of our proposals commissioned from Watson Wyatt, a firm of actuaries and consultants, has confirmed that this approach is appropriate and reasonable. Copies of this report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses entitled "Armed Forces Compensation Scheme—A report on the proposals for a revised compensation scheme for members of the Armed Forces".

Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on how the new tariff-based compensation scheme will (a) assess compensation for (i) injuries and (ii) financial losses consequent on injury and (b) be administered, with particular reference to appeal arrangements.

Ivor Caplin: The new scheme will assess compensation by matching an injury accepted as due to service to a tariff description and the corresponding fixed level award. For those injuries lying within tariff levels 1 to 11, where it is assessed that earnings capacity will be significantly affected, there will be an additional Guaranteed Income Stream, paid at graduated levels, up-rated for inflation, and based on salary at service termination. It will be paid for life.
	Decisions in the scheme will be the responsibility of lay administrators, but with access to medical and legal advice. They will be evidence-based, reflecting case specific facts and contemporary generally accepted medical understanding. Adjudication guidance in the scheme will be published, with medical aspects externally validated.
	The new compensation scheme will be implemented by the Veterans Agency, which has considerable experience of assessing and determining claims for injury, illness or death due to Service. There will be an internal disputes resolution procedure for claimants who are dissatisfied with the decision on their claims. Following this, claimants can appeal to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal (who currently support the War Pensions Scheme). For appeals on points of law, a Social Security Commissioner will provide the new second tier of independent appeal, with a final level of appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of injury case will receive (a) less and (b) more compensation under the new scheme proposed in the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: A key principle of the new scheme is a better scaling of compensation to the level of disablement. The War Pensions Scheme provides neither awards that are reasonably proportionate to level of disablement nor significant up-front sums to help people adapt their lives to their new circumstances. However, the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for death, injury and ill-health due to Service provides lump sums for pain and suffering that are set out in a 15-level tariff, graduated for level of disablement, with substantial amounts payable, particularly at the higher levels. This also means that money will be available to help people adapt their lives. Where earning capacity is significantly impaired, there will also be a Guaranteed Income Stream (GIS), graduated according to level of impairment. For those with more minor conditions, which are not expected to have a significant impact on earnings capacity, a lump sum for pain and suffering is paid, but no GIS. Details of the compensation scheme, including example tariffs, have been placed in the Library of the House and can be found on the MOD internet site at: www.mod.uk/issues/pensions (A Framework Document For The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for Injury, Illness and Death Due to Service).

Armed Forces Personnel (Medical Services)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the availability of (a) general practitioner services and (b) NHS dental services to families of armed forces personnel located in the UK.

Ivor Caplin: Issues of concern to Service families are monitored regularly through continuous attitude surveys and meetings with the Service family associations. We are aware that some families can find it difficult to find a GP but we are not aware of families not being able to register with a GP. Service families are in the same position as other member of local communities in relation to NHS dentists. However, the MOD is continuing to look at ways we can reduce these problems through local discussions.

Armoured Vehicles

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many FV432 series vehicles were deployed to the Gulf during Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: Approximately 480 FV432 and FV432 variant vehicles were deployed to the Gulf during Operation Telic.

Aviation Noise

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has (a) published and (b) commissioned into helicopter noise.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 10 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1293–98W, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.

Civilian Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 273W, when his Department last compiled reliable data for civilians at individual defence installations; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: There are no centrally held reliable data on the number of civilians at individual defence installations.

Defence Estate Organisation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Defence Estate Organisation's Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98.

Ivor Caplin: No publication exists for the period stated. The Defence Estates Organisation was not directed to produce qualified accounts during the first year as an Agency.

Defence Fire Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the Defence Fire Service was of Operation Fresco, broken down by main budget.

Adam Ingram: Information on the discrete costs incurred by the Defence Fire Service during Operation Fresco could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the overall additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence during Operation Fresco are charged to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Defence Spending (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much of the personnel budget of the (a) United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, (b) Defence Export Services Organisation, (c) Defence Medical Services Department and (d) Army Base Repair Organisation was spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03 (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the figures for each agency;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 133–36W, how much of its total personnel budget the (a) Defence Estates, (b) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency, (c) Naval Manning Agency, (d) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (e) Defence Housing Executive, (f) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (g) Army Personnel Centre and (h) Army Training and Recruitment Agency spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03, (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 133–36W, how much of its total personnel budget the (a) Defence Communications Services Agency, (b) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, (c) Veterans Agency, (d) Disposal Services Agency, (e) Pay and Personnel Agency, (f) Defence Aviation Repair Agency and (g) Meteorological Office spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03, (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 133–36W, how much of its total personnel budget the (a) RAF Personnel Manning Agency, (b) RAF Training Group Defence Agency, (c) Warship Support Agency, (d) British Forces Post Office, (e) Defence Vetting Agency, (f) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency and (g) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03, (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  how much of the personnel budget of the (a) Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and (b) Defence Secondary Care Agency was spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03 (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the figures for each agency;
	(6)  pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 133–36W, how much of its total personnel budget the (a) Service Children's Education, (b) Duke of York's Royal Military School, (c) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, (d) Defence Procurement Agency, (e) Defence Transport and Movements Agency, (f) Medical Supplies Agency, (g) Defence Dental Agency and (h) Defence Bills Agency spent in Scotland in financial year 2002–03, (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total; what the figures were in the previous year; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 132–35W, and the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 3 December 2003, Official Report, columns 67–68W.

Departmental Minutes

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be taken.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 January 2004
	The Ministry of Defence follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Environmental Impact Assessments

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what projects have received an environmental impact assessment since his policy statement on the management of safety and environmental protection in July 2000.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Equipment Programme

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Equipment Programme.

Adam Ingram: Information on a range of major equipment projects, which together form the substantial part of the Ministry of Defence's forward equipment programme, is routinely made available, for example in support of the PAC's annual Major Projects Report and the HCDC's annual inquiry into defence procurement. This detail is set in broader context by the publication every two years of the MOD's overarching Defence Investment Strategy.
	In addition, the principal output of the MOD's annual equipment planning round is a set of detailed planning assumptions and financial data about the proposed content and timing of the future equipment programme. This forms part of the internal advice to Ministers on the overall affordability of the defence programme and of individual projects at the time they come forward for approval. It therefore anticipates decisions still to be taken by Ministers. In parts it also contains information which is commercially sensitive. I am therefore withholding the information in accordance with Exemptions 2 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

European Defence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to set up a joint Franco-British rapid deployment force; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to set up a joint Franco-British rapid deployment force. However, as part of the Helsinki Headline Goal, member states agreed to develop rapid response elements available and deployable at very high readiness. The British, French and German governments are proposing that EU member states create Battle Group-sized forces, deployable within 15 days, by 2007. Member states would be able to offer such formations individually—as is likely to be the case for the United Kingdom—or on a multi-national basis.

European Defence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress achieved by the Helsinki Project Catalogue groups tasked with studying (a) air-to-air refuelling, (b) combat search and rescue, (c) strategic unmanned air vehicles, (d) nuclear, biological and chemical protection, (e) headquarters, (f) special operations forces, (g) theatre ballistic missile defence, (h) strategic airlift, (i) interoperability, (j) space, (k) intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, (l) strategic sealift, (m) collective medical protection, (n) attack helicopters and (o) support helicopters.

Adam Ingram: Progress is continuing across the 15 Project Groups established under the European Capabilities Action Plan since May 2003, although all are at different stages in their development. In strategic mobility, for example, and in conjunction with NATO, the Project Group is introducing a 'Strategic Air Lift Interim Solution' or SALIS, (in place until A-400M becomes available) and the co-ordinated use of assets by a Strategic Air Lift Co-ordination Centre, co-located with the European Airlift Co-ordination Centre at Eindhoven. There are also important qualitative outputs under development across the Project Groups, for example in systems interoperability, operational doctrine, and training. The Council Conclusions of 17 November 2003 underlined the need to disseminate Project Group objectives, timelines and reporting procedures more widely, and this information will be presented shortly as an integral part of the Single Progress Report compiled once during each Presidency. It is anticipated that a Capability Improvement Chart showing the state-of-play of the Project Groups in a clearly digestible format will accompany the Single Progress Report.

Future Integrated Soldier Technology Programme

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology programme.

Adam Ingram: The Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme has almost completed the first year of a 32 month Assessment Phase and is making good progress. The project will bring the benefits of improved technology to the soldier by providing an integrated suite of personal equipment to enhance dismounted close combat capability.

Gulf War Illnesses

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf War veterans suffering from Gulf War illnesses have been tested for (a) depleted uranium poisoning, (b) squalene antibodies and (c) microplasmal organisms.

Ivor Caplin: A voluntary programme to test for depleted uranium (DU) in the urine of veterans will begin in pilot form in March, with the full programme expected to become available during the summer. The test will be available for all eligible veterans and civilians, irrespective of their state of health. In addition, a very small number of veterans have been tested for total uranium following referral by the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme. I understand that some veterans have been tested for exposure to DU by private arrangement.
	The Ministry of Defence has not tested veterans for squalene antibodies or mycoplasmal infections, to which I believe the hon. Member is referring. I understand that some veterans have been tested for squalene antibodies by private arrangement.

Joint Strike Fighter

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the intellectual property rights of the joint strike fighter system; and whether this is shared with UK and US companies.

Adam Ingram: Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Joint Strike Fighter system are owned by the contractor or sub-contractor generating them, whether UK or US companies. The IPR generated under the contracts and sub-contracts can be used by the MOD for purposes associated with that programme.

Lieutenant Lewis Page

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 574W, on Lieutenant Lewis Page, whether (a) authorisation was sought by Lieutenant Page and (b) permission which fell short of proper authorisation was given to Lieutenant Page.

Ivor Caplin: Lieutenant Lewis Page did not seek authorisation to publish an article in Prospect magazine, nor was permission of any kind given to him.

Nuclear Weapons

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the renewal of the 1958 Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes.

Adam Ingram: Discussions continue between the United Kingdom and United States Governments on the renewal of this agreement. Subject to the outcome of those discussions, we expect to lay any amendments before the House later this year in accordance with normal procedures for treaty renewals.

Operation Artemis

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use will be made of the armed forces for covert surveillance on upland estates as part of Operation Artemis.

Adam Ingram: None. Operation Artemis was an EU led operation to help stabilise the town of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo which ended in September 2003. The UK contributed 85 personnel to the Operation. Their role was to increase the capacity of the airfield in Bunia.

Overseas Bribery

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations of overseas bribery the MOD Police has received since November 1997; how many of these allegations resulted in investigations; and what the outcome of these investigations was.

Ivor Caplin: There have been six allegations of bribery overseas received by the Ministry of Defence Police since 1998. Records do not go back as far as November 1997. As a result of these allegations, four investigations were conducted. One investigation at the British embassy Washington in December 1999 resulted in internal MOD discipline procedures being carried out and an employee returning to the UK. The second investigation at Rhine Garrison in September 2000 resulted in no further action being taken. There is one ongoing investigation which commenced in July 2002 at the Royal Mint Llantrisant which is soon to be brought to a close. The investigation in Sierra Leone in December 2002 resulted in no crime being found.

Parliamentary Questions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to Questions with reference numbers 146471 and 146688, tabled on 5 January.

Adam Ingram: I replied to my hon. Friend on 9 February 2004, (Official Report, columns 1173–74W)

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that answers to parliamentary questions which are in the form of letters which are lodged in the Library are, subject to issues of confidentiality, made available to the public by posting them on the Ministry website.

Ivor Caplin: The office of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, is working with House officials to explore what might be done to improve the accessibility of subsequent correspondence.

RAF Fairford

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what building work is under way at RAF Fairford, with particular reference to hangar capacity.

Ivor Caplin: The building work currently under way at RAF Fairford involves a number of general infrastructure upgrade programmes. These include a fuel complex, a 4.5km perimeter road around the south-east portion of the airfield, some airfield pavement works, the construction of a single-bay portable aircraft shelter and a two-bay aircraft maintenance hangar capable of housing a wide variety of aircraft, including the USAF B-2 aircraft.
	The current operational status of RAF Fairford as a NATO designated standby base will not change and no aircraft will be permanently stationed at the base.

RAF Fairford

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to further secure the boundary fence at RAF Fairford.

Ivor Caplin: Every aspect of security at all RAF bases, including RAF Fairford, is under constant review and improvements are made when necessary.

Recruitment

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence up to what percentage of its liability the (a) Royal Corps of Signals, (b) Corps of Royal Engineers, (c) Infantry, (d) Royal Logistics Corps, (e) Royal Armoured Corps, (f) Royal Artillery, (g) Royal Air Force and (h) Royal Navy is allowed to recruit.

Adam Ingram: The Army, and individual capbadges within the Army, do not recruit as a percentage of liability. The Army is resourced to approximately 94 per cent. of liability in FY 2004–05; this defines, through a process of detailed manpower forecasting, the level of recruits required each year. The Director of Manning (Army) divides the total requirement of new recruits each year by capbadge and this will be consistent with the Army Board's endorsed manning priorities. The level of funding is set to increase gradually to nearly 99 per cent. of its liability by 2008.
	In the Royal Navy and the RAF, recruiting targets are set in order to provide a level of input that will sustain manpower levels in the long-term against the projected requirement. Both Services strive to recruit 100 per cent. of their manning target in any one financial year. Royal Navy recruiting targets are variable and not a fixed percentage of the requirement.

Reserve Forces

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists who are fit for role are available for mobilisation.[R]

Ivor Caplin: As at 31 January 2004, the number of Volunteer Reservists who were currently fit for role and available for mobilisation was 19,810. In addition, 112,040 members of the Regular Reserve were also available for mobilisation.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 273W, how many Royal Fleet auxiliaries are employed in Scotland.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently no Royal Fleet Auxiliaries permanently based on-shore in Scotland.

Surplus Equipment

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sales of surplus equipment have been approved in the last 12 months, broken down by (a) equipment type, (b) country to which it was sold and (c) value; what further equipment is being considered for sale to other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The contracts signed by the Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) in the calendar year 2003 for equipments directly sold (in some cases still to be exported) on a Government-to-Government basis are listed as follows:
	
		
			 Equipment Country 
		
		
			 Type 23 Frigate HMS Sheffield Chile 
			 6 Watchman Auto Radar Displays Finland 
			 Various 105MM light gun spares Republic of Ireland 
			 Various test/training equipment Jordan 
			 95 Scammell Commander Tank transporters Jordan 
		
	
	It is not our practice to reveal sales values and, so as to protect third party commercial confidentiality, I am therefore withholding that information in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The DSA markets most capital equipments declared surplus to requirements to overseas Governments for further use. It is currently actively marketing Landing Ships Logistics, Combat Vehicles Reconnaissance (Tracked), Sea Harrier and Sea Kings (among other primary equipments).

Welsh Regiments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in Welsh regiments in Iraq have not been issued with flak jackets.

Adam Ingram: There is sufficient Enhanced Combat Body Armour in Iraq for every member of the armed forces who requires it.

Welsh Regiments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in Welsh regiments are fighting in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: As at 11 February 2004, 486 soldiers were serving in Iraq with the Royal Regiment of Wales.

Welsh Regiments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in Welsh regiments have been killed in Iraq, broken down by cause of death.

Adam Ingram: As at 11 February 2004, three soldiers who were serving with Welsh regiments have been killed in Iraq. All these deaths were the result of operational accidents.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Leader of the House how many days on average his Office took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary Question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was.

Peter Hain: On average, it took my office 2.5 days to give a substantive answer to an ordinary written parliamentary question 1 .
	The greatest number of days to answer such a question was nine days (excluding recess days).
	Performance on handling parliamentary questions is available on the Leader of the Commons website www.commonsleader.gov.uk.
	1 Questions tabled during Session 2002–03 included those to the President of the Council

TREASURY

National Statistics

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new cases of osteosarcoma have been diagnosed in (a) children, (b) adolescents and (c) adults in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew George dated 19 February 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many new cases of osteosarcoma have been diagnosed in (a) children, (b) adolescents and (c) adults in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
	Newly diagnosed cases of osteosarcoma are coded to malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage. It is not possible to say exactly how many such cases are osteosarcoma, because some records do not identify the specific cell type. Of the total numbers of cases of malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage, osteosarcomas represent about 50% in children and adolescents and about 25% in adults.
	The numbers of registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage in England for the age groups requested for the years 1991 to 2000 (the latest available year) are given in the table below. The age groups; children, adolescents and adults are those used in recent published studies of the incidence of cancer in England.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage in England, by age group, 1991–2000
		
			  1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Children (aged under 15) 41 37 51 50 63 51 49 47 58 55 
			 Adolescents (aged 15–24) 72 73 63 52 75 56 75 76 59 68 
			 Adults (aged 25 and over) 254 252 228 249 277 296 276 252 305 312 
			 Total 367 362 342 351 415 403 400 375 422 435 
		
	
	Note
	For the years 1991 to 1994, International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision Code (ICD-9) code 170. For the years 1995 to 2000, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C40 and C41.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

National Statistics

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many patients have died in circumstances where the primary tumour was an osteosarcoma in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew George dated 19 February 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many patients have died in circumstances where the primary tumour was an osteosarcoma in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
	No figures are available on the number of deaths from osteosarcoma because it is defined in terms of cell type, and this information is not collected at death registration. Deaths from osteosarcoma are included in figures for malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage.
	The number of deaths from malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available are given in the table below.
	
		Number of deaths from malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage in England 1993–2002
		
			 Year Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1993 187 
			 1994 188 
			 1995 175 
			 1996 214 
			 1997 212 
			 1998 195 
			 1999 201 
			 2000 202 
			 2001 248 
			 2002 229 
		
	
	Note:
	For the years 1993 to 2000, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision Code (ICD-9) code 170. For the years 2001 to 2002, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes C40 and C41.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

National Statistics

Barbara Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions gave to her on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1590–91W.

National Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average weekly income was in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available, listed in descending order with Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 19 February 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about average weekly income in each ward in principal seaside towns. (154942)
	The Office for National Statistics does not produce earnings estimates at the requested level of detail for current wards. The lowest geographic area for which these estimates are produced from the New Earnings Survey is local authority and unitary authority level. The latest available figures for average weekly earnings at this level relate to April 2003 and are published on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme labour/NES2003 Analyses By Region/NES2003 Analyses By Region.pdf
	The estimates given in the New Earnings Survey are for the gross earnings of employees who are members of Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) schemes. They do not include income from other sources, or the earnings of individuals who are not members of such schemes.

Civil Servants (Relocation)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants he expects will be relocated from London as a result of the assessment by Sir Michael Lyons; from which Government departments relocation of staff is being considered; when he expects the first staff to move from London; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation led by Sir Michael Lyons will report its findings and recommendations in March 2004. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt his final report. Sir Michael's interim report is available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

Civil Servants (Relocation)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which towns and cities have been assessed by Sir Michael Lyons for possible relocation of civil servants from London; which have been short-listed; how many locations will be selected; when he expects to make an announcement; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Sir Michael Lyons retained King Sturge Property Consultants to conduct an analysis of over 100 locations to better understand local property and labour markets. This information is available on the Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk and will inform Sir Michael's final report which will be published in March 2004.

Defence Capabilities

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1170W, on provision for defence capability, on which page of the Ministry of Defence's Report and Accounts 2002–03 the net cash requirement for Request for Resources 1: Provision for Defence Capability for financial years 2001–02 to 2002–03 can be found.

Paul Boateng: Net Cash Requirement (NCR) covers the consequences of all requests for resources (RfR) together with other cash implications and, as such, is not recorded on an individual RfR basis.
	The total NCR outturn figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 can be found on page 88 of MOD's Report and Accounts 2002–03.

Gulf War

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received by the Government from overseas governments in respect of costs incurred during the Gulf War, (a) in total and (b) from (i) Germany, (ii) Japan, (iii) Saudi Arabia, (iv) Kuwait and (v) other Gulf states.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the National Audit Office Report on MOD: Of the Costs and Receipts Arising from the Gulf Conflict (2 December 1992).

Penrose Inquiry

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any (a) Minister and (b) official of (i) HM Treasury and (ii) the Treasury Solicitor's Department has (A) held discussions with, (B) written to and (C) provided any part of the Penrose report into Equitable Life to anyone in the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury officials have had contact with the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on a range of matters, but no part of the Penrose report into Equitable Life has been provided to that office.

Property Ownership

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who work abroad and own property in the UK;
	(2)  if he will estimate how many people resident overseas own property in the UK but do not pay income tax.

Ruth Kelly: It is not possible to estimate the number of people who work or are otherwise resident abroad and own property in the UK, or the number of those who do not pay UK income tax. However there are currently around 100,000 individuals who are resident outside the UK and have notified the Inland Revenue that they are letting out UK property. All of them are subject to UK income tax on any profits they make from such letting out.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Gordon Brown: On 18 November 2003.
	I travelled from Euston to Birmingham by train to speak at the CBI Conference, returning on the same day.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1294W.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

David Lammy: The information is provided in the following table. To date, my Department has not spent anything on rebranding for the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Our executive agency, the Public Guardianship Office, has spent £56,695 on new branding to reflect its change of name from the Public Trust Office. A contract for £25,000 has recently been let to provide a style re-design for DCA HQ stationery and publications.

Hutton Report

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who authorised, and for what purpose, members of the Intelligence and Security Committee to be given access to the contents of the Hutton Inquiry Report on the morning of 28 January in advance of its publication.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer provided on 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 758W, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to the hon. Member for Southend West (Mr. Amess).

Hutton Report

David Amess: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who in his office saw an embargoed copy of the Hutton Report.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 758W.

Hutton Report

Jon Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his estimate is of the total amount of staff hours spent in support of Lord Hutton's Inquiry; what the budget allocated to it was; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: A precise cost for the inquiry, which will include four members from the Department of Constitutional Affairs seconded to the inquiry team, is not yet available. We will publish the figure once it is available.
	Hours spent by other staff in support of the inquiry or in general will have been part of their normal duties and at no cost to the inquiry. Records of hours spent on the inquiry are not maintained centrally.

Laganside Courts Complex

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what monthly payments have been made to date to Consul Services Ltd. for the Laganside courts Private Finance Initiative scheme; what abatements have been applied; and what the reasons were for each abatement.

Christopher Leslie: The average monthly payment is £350,000 and, to date, 22 monthly payments totalling £7,682,926.57 have been made to Consul Services Ltd. 11 abatements totalling £4,226.84 have been applied and all were in respect of water ingress.

Legal Aid

Nick Harvey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average annual percentage salary rise awarded to those employed in dealing with or administering criminal legal aid was between 1 January 1996 and 30 November 2003; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Commission is unable to answer the question in the format requested as neither the Legal Services Commission nor the former Legal Aid Board make a distinction between staff administering civil and criminal work.
	The Commission is able to provide figures on the average annual percentage salary rise—awarded with effect from 1 April—for each year since 1997, but cannot provide a figure for 1996. The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 4 
			 1998 3.5 
			 1999 4 
			 2000 (1)4 
			 2>0.5 
			 2001 (1)4.3 
			 (2)0.9 
			 2002 (1)4.3 
			 (2)1.1 
			 2003 (1)3.6 
			 (2)1.1 
		
	
	(1) Consolidated
	(2) Non-consolidated
	All annual salary increases are subject to a pay remit, which must be approved by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Prior to 2003 remits also required approval of HM Treasury.

Departmental Staff

Russell Brown: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of staff employed within the Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, on 6 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1084–86W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits by (a) UK and (b) foreign journalists to Basra have been facilitated by the Government in the last month; on which dates such visits took place; and which journalists were involved.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2004
	I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the number of government sponsored visits by both United Kingdom and foreign journalists to Basra in the last month is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Name Nation Media Dates 
		
		
			 Gareth Furby UK BBC London News 9–18 January 
			 John Walsh UK BBC London News 9–18 January 
			 Herr Rainer Hirst Germany ZDF TV Germany 12–20 January 
			 Herr Lukas Rosenberg Germany ZDF TV Germany 12–20 January 
			 Herr Lars Schwietjke Germany ZDF TV Germany 12–20 January 
			 Herr Christian Schubert Germany Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 15–20 January 
			 M. Olivier Lucazeau France AFP 15–20 January 
			 Nevsal Elevi Turkey Milliyet 15–20 January 
			 Ms Heidi Kingstone Canada Johannesburg Star 15–20 January 
			 Herr Frank Herman Germany Rheinische Poste 19–23 January 
			 Herr Markus Ziener Germany Handelsblatt 19–23 January 
			 Herr Christoph Mahlzahm Germany Spiegel 19–23 January 
			 Herr Christoph von Marschall Germany Tages Spiegel 19–23 January 
			 Dr. Greg Mills South Africa South African Institute of International Affairs 19–25 January 
			 Andrew Redvers Collinson UK HTV Wales 19–25 January 
			 Richard Hooper UK HTV Wales 19–25 January 
			 Iolo Ap Dafydd UK BBC Wales 19–25 January 
			 Rhys Williams UK BBC Wales 19–25 January 
			 Oliver Wright UK Times 24–29 January 
			 Jack Hill UK Times 24–29 January 
			 Mme Florence Saugues France Paris Match 7–12 February 
			 M. Bernard Wis France Paris Match 7–12 February 
			 Mlle Sophie Shihab France Le Monde 7–12 February 
			 M. Frederic Gerschel France Le Parisienne 7–12 February 
		
	
	Note:
	Those for which we have provided international air transport
	This list does not include information on journalists who may have accompanied either a royal or ministerial party, details of which are not held centrally.
	In addition to the sponsored visits, we have provided facilities to many journalists based in or visiting Iraq independently.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Advertising

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on recruitment advertisements in the press, broken down by publication, by (a) his Department, (b) quangos under the Department and (c) non-departmental Government bodies under the Department (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	The total cost of recruitment advertising in the press from 29 May 2002 to 31 December 2003 is £343,000.
	The provision of a breakdown of costs by publication could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister use the most appropriate publication for recruitment advertising, be it national, regional, trade magazine or website, depending on the nature of the vacancy to be filled.
	Information on costs incurred by quangos and NDPBs is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Civil Servants

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many civil servants were employed in his Department, broken down by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) Civil Service classification and (d) tenure since May 2002.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002.
	The staffing position for the Office, as at December 2003 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 Gender  
			 Female 1,048 
			 Male 1,214 
			 Total 2,262 
			   
			 Age Group  
			 16 to 25 147 
			 26 to 35 591 
			 36 to 45 670 
			 46 to 55 607 
			 56 plus 247 
			 Total 2,262 
			   
			 Civil Service Classification  
			 Senior Civil Service 148 
			 Pay Group 7 59 
			 Pay Group 6 375 
			 Pay Group 5 253 
			 Pay Group 4 529 
			 Pay Group 3 476 
			 Pay Group 2 355 
			 Pay Group 1 40 
			 Pay Group EM1 to 4 27 
			 Total 2,262 
			   
			 Tenure  
			 Casual 66 
			 Permanent 2,054 
			 Other (fixed-term appointment and inward secondments) 142 
			 Total 2,262 
		
	
	Staffing information is also available in Table C of the annual publication, "Civil Service Statistics", which covers permanent staff numbers in each Department and agencies from 1995 to 2002. Copies of the publication are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest edition, based on April 2002 data, was published on 24 July 2003.
	Alternatively, this information is available at the following address on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm

Council Housing

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 748, what estimate he has made of the return anticipated by investors on the £8 billion private investment made in former council housing to which he referred; and what part of the £8 billion private investment and servicing charges being made in former council housing will be recouped by investors in charges (a) to the Exchequer and (b) to tenants.

Keith Hill: Private Finance raised by registered social landlords (RSLs) in order to purchase and improve former council housing will be obtained on a competitive basis at the market rate at the time of borrowing. The National Audit Office report "Improving social housing through transfer" published in March 2003 recorded that transfers in 2000–01, the last full year covered by the report, secured loans with margins ranging from 0.1 per cent. to 0.5 per cent. above base rates. Provision for the repayment of the loan principal and associated interest will be included with in the RSL's business plan.

Departmental Information

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the information or public relations campaigns conducted by his Department since May 2002.

Yvette Cooper: Information and public relations campaigns conducted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since May 2002 are as follows:
	The Fire safety campaign aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries from domestic fires.
	The Elected Regional Assemblies campaign—to create public awareness of, and encourage informed debate on, our policies on regional government.
	The advertising and promotional campaign to inform people about and encourage the uptake of the Starter Homes scheme.

Departmental Staff

Russell Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley South on the 20 January 2004, Official Report, col. 1130W.

Development Sites

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister through what mechanism he may require reserve housing development sites to be released for building.

Keith Hill: It is premature for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to consider how to require the release of reserve housing sites at this time. In general my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has powers to modify or call-in development plans, and is responsible for deciding planning application appeals. In relation to Hampshire, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will decide what further action, if any, is necessary following the decision of the Joint Advisory Panel on 10 March.

Fire Service

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he made of the cost to East Sussex Fire Authority of becoming a precepting authority.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are carefully considering responses to the consultation on alternative notional amounts for Combined Fire Authorities, including that received from East Sussex Fire Authority.

Fire Service

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether, under his plans for modernisation of the Fire Service, smaller fire authorities will have less scope to make savings than larger fire authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Independent Review of the Fire Service predicted that the metropolitan brigades would gain the biggest savings. However, it may be too simplistic to compare larger versus smaller authorities. That, and the profound changes to the fire and rescue service announced in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" is why the Government recognises that revisiting the fire formula spending share formula could be an issue. A working group of officials has been set up to examine the case for change and possible alternatives. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider any proposals for changes to the formula in the light of the working group's conclusions.

Fire Service

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a mechanism to redistribute grant to those smaller fire authorities that may have less scope to make savings under the Fire Service Modernisation agenda than larger fire authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Government recognises that revisiting the fire formula spending share formula could be an issue, given the profound changes to the fire and rescue service announced in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service". A working group of officials has been set up to examine the case for change and possible alternatives. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider any proposals for changes to the formula in the light of the working group's conclusions.

Fire Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he takes to ensure that the staff in fire service control rooms in Coventry have adequate levels of local knowledge.

Nick Raynsford: There are no fire control rooms in Coventry.

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give As You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: The latest available data for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's payroll are for November 2003. In this month 261 staff donated £4,962.46 to 'Give As You Earn' (GAYE) out of a total headcount of 2,385 staff. This means that the percentage of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's staff making donations in this manner currently stands at 10.95 per cent.—the target rate is 10 per cent.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises the importance in continuing to raise awareness among its staff and intends carry out a promotion campaign and to integrate promotion of this scheme in our induction materials.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Mr. Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the fire risk in houses in multiple occupation of two storeys.

Nick Raynsford: Government research published in 1997—Fire Risk in Houses in Multiple Occupation: Research Report—revealed that the risk of death from fire in HMOs of two storeys is about four times less than those of three storeys or more.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also recently completed a study into the effectiveness of residential sprinkler systems in a range of premises, including houses in multiple occupation. A summary of that project is available from the Building Regulations area of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. The full report of the work is available from the Building Research Establishment.

House Building

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he assesses which reserve sites should be released to meet county level house building targets; and to what extent those borough councils that have already met their targets will be exempt from having to release reserve sites.

Keith Hill: It would be premature to take any decisions on where the release of the 'reserve' provision in Hampshire should take place, until after the Joint Advisory Panel have made their decision. The Strategic Planning Authorities have recently consulted upon a draft addendum to the Supplementary Planning Guidance 'Implementing Policy H4', which sets out a process for deciding the location of release. Performance against housing requirements is listed as one of the factors to be considered.

House Building

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have been assessed as not meeting their target for house building.

Yvette Cooper: Information on how many local authorities have been assessed as not meeting their house building target has not been collected centrally. However, performance on house building has formed part of the assessments made at the regional and strategic level for the preparation of revised Regional Planning Guidance and structure plans in each region.
	Each local planning authority will be required, under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, to report on their performance against their local development scheme and on the impact of their policies on the ground in their Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). Local planning authorities would be required to include information on housing policy and performance. Under draft clause 25 of the Bill, if the AMR indicates that they are not performing as desired, this should trigger the authority to revise their local development scheme (and subsequently their local development documents). If they fail to do so, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister can direct the authority to do so.

Information Technology

Richard Allan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated.

Yvette Cooper: A Centre of Excellence was established within in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect, it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined.

Local Government Finance

Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total English local authority expenditure was for each year since 1992–93.

Nick Raynsford: Local authority revenue expenditure for the period 1992–93 to 2003–04 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1992–93 42,020 
			 1993–94 41,506 
			 1994–95 43,602 
			 1995–96 44,827 
			 1996–97 46,532 
			 1997–98 47,256 
			 1998–99 50,189 
			 1999–2000 53,651 
			 2000–01 57,329 
			 2001–02 61,952 
			 2002–03 (3)65,919 
			 2003–04 (4)72,473 
		
	
	(3) provisional
	(4) budget
	Revenue expenditure is financed from formula grant (which includes revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates, police grant), and specific grants within Aggregate External Finance (AEF).
	It excludes expenditure financed by specific grants outside AEF, including mandatory rent allowances, mandatory rate rebates, mandatory student awards and, from 2002–03, grants for adult education and sixth forms which are funded by the Learning and Skills Council.
	Data is taken from RS outturn form for 1992–93 to 2002–03 and RA budget form for 2003–04.

Neighbourhood Renewal Budget

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget was for each project funded by Neighbourhood Renewal for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, broken down by (i) English region and (ii) neighbourhood renewal area.

Yvette Cooper: Figures on Neighbourhood Renewal funding for 2002–03 and 2003–04, broken down by English region and neighbourhood renewal area are available in the Library of the House.

Out-of-town Retail Developments

Michael Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he gives to local planning authorities assessing applications for out-of-town retail developments which provide enabling development for the benefit of local communities.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide any specific guidance on this issue. Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires planning applications to be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Key material considerations include national planning policy such as PPG13: Transport, on the location of development, and PPG6 on Town Centres and Retail Developments. PPG6 indicates that all out-of-centre retail development should be assessed in line with the policy. Other material considerations, as draft PPS6: Planning for Town Centres indicates, may include physical regeneration, employment, economic growth and social inclusion, but the draft guidance does not specifically refer to enabling development.

Periodicals

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the annual cost of periodicals that (a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have subscribed to since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The total expenditure on periodicals, including newspapers, by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the period from formation until 31 March 2003 was £300,072, and for 1 April until 22 December 2003 was £237,371.
	This breaks down as follows:
	
		£
		
			  29 May 2002 to 31 March 2003 1 April to 22 December 2002 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Ministerial Office 1,262 1,710 
			 (b) Other ministerial offices in ODPM 7,827 5,235 
			 (c) Non-departmental bodies (Rent Assessment Panels only) 1,609 1,431 
			 (d) Executive agencies No data available No data available 
			 (e) ODPM total 300,072 237,371 
		
	
	Information on how much NDPBs and Agencies spend on periodicals is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The exception to this is expenditure by Rent Assessment Panels, which is processed centrally by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The press office provides a centralised media service on behalf of ODPM(c) . At 1 April 2003, there were 21.8 full time equivalent press officers.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Audit Commission in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The Audit Commission used an external consultancy for Press Officers until October 2001, up to that time the Commission did not directly employ Press officers. The Commission employed Press Officers from the following dates:
	1 April 2002—6
	1 April 2003—7
	(b) The Audit Commission used an external consultancy for Public Relation officers until 1999. Since then this work has been handled by in-house staff and/or outside consultancies. Since 1999 the role has involved the equivalent of one full-time job. As from February 2004 the Press Officer/Public Relation Officer roles will be combined and will result in a total of seven employees.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Housing Corporation in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1999, as at 1 April, the Housing Corporation has employed a Head of Communications and one full-time Communications/Media Officer.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by English Partnerships in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1999–2000, English Partnerships have employed a total of six press officers and no public relations officers. Records for earlier periods are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Standards Board for England in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Standards Board for England was set up in 2001. It currently employs two officers supported by an administrator who provide a service to the press in addition to other general communications duties such as organising events.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Boundary Commission for England in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since then no press officers or public relation officers have been employed by the Boundary Commission for England.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Boundary Commission for Wales in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since then no press officers or public relations officers have been employed by the Boundary Commission for Wales.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Residential Property Tribunal Service in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: None.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Valuation Tribunals in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Valuation Tribunals have never employed press or public relation officers.

Procurement (Outsourcing)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister procures IT in line with Government procurement policy, having due regard to propriety and regularity and the need to comply with the requirements of the EU Treaty, including the principle of non-discrimination, the EC procurement directives and the UK's international obligations.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has two outsourced IT contracts, totalling £10.7 million, neither of which is with an offshore company. Of these, one is a Department for Transport contract providing joint services to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the other is the sole responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. These contracts were let with:
	LogicaCMG for the provision of the corporate payroll service for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Transport; and
	Fujitsu for the provision of IT infrastructure and desktop services for the Government Office Network.

Protective Suits

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many nuclear, biological, chemical protective suits are available to (a) emergency services and (b) military personnel in the London area.

Nick Raynsford: The London Ambulance Service currently has 400 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits immediately available for use in response to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear) incidents. The Service plans to increase the number of suits available to 1,400 during the next financial year.
	The London Fire Brigade has 1,500 gas-tight suits immediately available for use in response to CBRN incidents, as well as for day-to-day operations.
	The Military in London has approximately 1,000 PPE suits immediately available.
	The total number of CBRN trained police officers nationally is now over 5,000. This is in line with the Association of Chief Police Officers' desired level of training to ensure that police forces nationally have the necessary resilience to deal with a CBRN incident. It would not be appropriate, on security grounds, to give more specific information regarding the CBRN response capability in each police force.
	The deployment of CBRN-protective equipment to the emergency services and to the Military is not tied to geographical regions and, depending on the nature and scale of any incident, London may receive extra equipment from or supply extra equipment to other regions.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the costs of local government reorganisation would be distributed if an elected regional assembly is established in (a) the North West, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the North East.

Nick Raynsford: It is too early to say what the costs and savings of any reorganisation will be since these will depend ultimately on the pattern of unitary authorities introduced and on the decisions that the new unitary authorities take about how to discharge their functions. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be discussing how any costs will be funded with local government.

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: Two security passes have been reported stolen by staff in the HQ buildings of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister during the period January 2003 to January 2004. A further 165 replacement security passes have been issued in the same period. It is not possible to say how many of the passes were lost other than by theft. Security passes may need to be replaced for a variety of reasons including loss, theft, damage or change of name, and the Office does not record the reasons for the replacement of a security pass. Figures for GOs North East and London are not available but a further 153 passes have been replaced in the remainder GO network. Although ODPM has overall responsibility for these, the Government Offices carry out functions on behalf often Departments.
	Procedures are in place to ensure that electronic passes are de-activated as soon as their loss is reported. In addition pass designs do not identify the building or organisation.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a new cost-benefit analysis of a statutory tenancy deposit scheme in England, taking account of the interest generated on deposits held in a custodial scheme.

Yvette Cooper: In considering proposals for dealing with tenancy deposits and in preparing a response to the consultation that concluded a year ago the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shall be revisiting the cost-benefit analysis on which the partial regulatory impact assessment that was included in the consultation paper.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the (a) maximum and (b) minimum potential (i) benefit and (ii) cost of a tenancy deposit scheme.

Yvette Cooper: An analysis of the costs and benefits of providing for tenancy deposit protection was contained in a partial regulatory impact assessment included in the consultation paper published in November 2002. This suggested that against costs of £19 million there could be benefits of around £20 million. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is reviewing those estimates as the various elements of measures to safeguard deposits are assessed and we will do so against a range of assumptions.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the organisations attending the seminar held in December to discuss the case for linking legislation for compulsory measures to protect tenancy deposits to the Law Commission's findings.

Yvette Cooper: The following organisations attended:
	Ashton Wingate Insurance
	Association of Letting and Managing Agents
	Association of Residential Letting Agents
	Association of Student Residential Accommodation
	Association of Tenancy Relations Officers
	Brent London Borough
	Brent Private Tenants
	Brighton and Hove BC
	British Property Federation
	Camden London Borough
	Council of Mortgage Lenders
	Croydon London Borough
	Empty Homes Agency
	Hastings and Rother Bond Bank
	HMO Network
	Independent Housing Ombudsman
	Islington London Borough
	Law Commission
	Legal Action group
	Manchester City Council
	NALS Homelet
	National Approved Letting Scheme
	National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau
	National Association of Estate Agents
	National Federation of Residential Landlords
	National Union of Students
	Newcastle New Deal
	Office of Fair Trading
	Shelter
	Small Landlords Association
	South Norfolk DC
	The Chartered Institute of Housing
	The Law Society
	The Rent Service
	The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
	Thomas Winter Insurance
	Universities UK

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the estimated cost of a tenancy deposit scheme took account of the proportion of cases requiring adjudication in (a) the pilot schemes and (b) other countries.

Yvette Cooper: The consultation paper on tenancy deposits contained a partial regulatory impact assessment that took account of the costs involved in the pilot tenancy deposit scheme managed by the Independent Housing Ombudsman. In the subsequent final period of the pilot the proportion of cases requiring adjudication has grown. Although international experiences make a useful comparison they are unlikely to provide a robust method of estimating what might happen in this country because of cultural differences such as attitudes to litigation. The circumstances in other countries may also reflect significant differences in the housing market, not least of all in the way in which it is regulated. Monday 23 February 2004

CABINET OFFICE

Public Services Audit

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answers of 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1048W and 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 72W, on public services audit, whether he knows who gave the unauthorised briefing to Rosemary Bennett of The Times newspaper.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1048W.

Regulatory Reform

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the timetable is for the full implementation of the revised regulatory reform action plan.

Douglas Alexander: Details of the timetable for implementing measures in the Government's Regulatory Reform Action Plan are contained in the updated version of the Plan, published in December 2003.

Regulatory Reform

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of the Regulatory Impact Unit business regulation team end of year report for 2003.

Douglas Alexander: The Business Regulation Team's end of year report for 2003 was published on 16 February 2004. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House and can be accessed at www.cabinet-office. gov.uk/regulation/business/endofyear.htm.

Strategy Unit (Fisheries Report)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1136W, on the Strategy Unit Fisheries Report, when he will announce the date on which the report will be made public.

Douglas Alexander: The report will be published shortly. We will inform the House when the exact date for publication has been decided.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

"All Our Futures"

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the detailed recommendations made by the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education in the Report, "All Our Futures", have been implemented; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education reported jointly to the Secretaries of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Education and Employment in 1999 via the report "All Our Futures". The report contained 59 detailed recommendations for action by a range of bodies including Government, schools and higher education institutions.
	Many of the recommendations in "All Our Futures" are framed quite broadly. However, my Department has worked closely with the Department for Education and Skills, and external partners, to implement all of those which fall to DCMS.
	Among the key examples are the Creative Partnerships programme, which aims to build long-term, sustainable relationships between creative professionals and schools. With £110 million of funding over four years, the programme, which began in September 2002, has enabled over 110,000 pupils to become involved in over 1,400 projects so far.
	The £130 million Space for Sport and Arts (SSA) programme is funding the building of nearly 300 facilities in primary schools in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in the country. 138 SSA projects have now been completed and 84 more have work ongoing.
	To support new music making opportunities for young people, Youth Music was established in 1999 with £10 million per annum of Lottery funding. It has already reached over one million young people and their wider communities. Alongside this, the Music Standards Fund, also established in 1999, provides £60 million per annum established to protect and expand LEA music services.
	Another relevant initiative is Artsmark, which seeks to recognise those schools which offer a wide range of arts provision. Nearly 2,000 schools now have awards, including one in five secondary schools nationally.

BBC

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidelines she issues to BBC Governors on their appointment relating to (a) party political work and (b) commenting on the policies of political parties other than those policies directly affecting the work of the BBC.

Tessa Jowell: The guidelines issued by me as Secretary of State to BBC Governors on appointment, in relation to these matters, are contained in the Cabinet Office Code of Best Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies. The BBC requires Governors, as detailed in the Board of Governors Standing Orders, to declare any activity that might affect their ability to perform their duties as Governors.

Consultations

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those individuals and organisations (a) to whom (i) her Department, (ii) its executive agencies and (iii) the non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultations (A) Review of lottery funding: a consultation paper on Lottery distribution policy, (B) New services: BBC public consultation final report and (C) Draft Media Ownership (Local Radio) Order 2003 and (b) from who each received a response in each case.

Richard Caborn: The individuals and organisations to which the DCMS sent a copy of the relevant consultation and the responses in each case are shown as follows:
	(A) Review of lottery funding: a consultation paper on Lottery Distribution Policy:
	(a) Sport England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Community Fund, the New Opportunity Fund, Awards For All, Arts Council England, The Film Council, UK Sport, Local Authorities, Members of Parliament, Regional Cultural Consortiums, Lottery Monitor, National Lottery Commission, Devolved Administrations and The Millennium Commission all received copies of this Consultation. The document was also made available on the Department's website.
	(b) A list of those individuals and, where indicated, organisations who commented on this consultation will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	(B) New services: BBC public consultation final report:
	(a) 'New services: BBC public consultation final report' is not a Departmental Publication and was not sent by the Department to any individuals or organisations.
	(C) Draft Media Ownership (Local Radio) Order 2003:
	(a) Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA), the ITC and the Radio Authority received copies of the Draft Media Ownership (Local Radio) Order 2003.
	(b) Comments were received from CRCA and the Radio Authority.
	Information relating to the distribution of these documents by the Department's (ii) executive agencies and (iii) the non-departmental public bodies for which DCMS is responsible is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Seaside Towns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure was provided through Lottery funding in each of the past seven years for each principal seaside town in England and Wales, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The information requested is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ministerial Interview

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to whom she was referring when she referred to testosterone-charged men in her interview with the Daily Telegraph on 7 February.

Tessa Jowell: This is a point that I have made in many interviews over recent years. It refers to an unacceptable style of politics that exists on every side of the House, which frequently alienates the wider public.

National Stud

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates her Department has made of the sale value of the National Stud; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The asset value of the National Stud is set out in the annual report of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, a copy of which is in the Libraries of both Houses. Our preference is to transfer the Stud, without consideration, to a new independent charitable trust with a broad remit which would include training for stud staff; thoroughbred breeding which genuinely and distinctively contributes to the long-term quality of British racing; and a centre displaying the British horse heritage as a whole and providing information about breeding. We will continue to assess the progress being made by the new Board of the Stud, with the support of the Levy Board, towards the point at which such a transfer could appropriately take place, with the proviso that closure of the Stud and sale of the assets remains the fall-back option.

National Stud

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent from public funds on the National Stud in each year from 1990; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The National Stud has received no Government funding during this period.

National Lottery

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what return on investment has been made by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts since its inception.

Estelle Morris: The total return on NESTA's investments for Fund A (NESTA's core endowment, invested on their behalf by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt in accordance with NESTA's Financial Directions) between the financial year (FY) 1999 to FY 2003 is £40,166.
	The total return on NESTA's investments for Fund B (the Endowments income, invested by NESTA, between FY 1999 and FY 2003 is £2,037.
	The following table shows the breakdown for each year.
	
		Final Investment income per audited accounts -- £000
		
			 Income andInvestment 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Fund A 11,618 11,599 9,006 7,943 40,166 
			 Fund B 161 591 656 630 2,037 
			 Total 11,778 12,190 9,662 8,574 42,204

National Lottery

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was allocated in grants by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the last year for which figures are available; and what its operating costs were in the last year for which figures are available.

Estelle Morris: The amount of awards given through NESTA's Fellowship, Learning and Invention and Innovation programmes in the last financial year available (2002–03) stands at £7,271,000. Through their other programmes, including Planet Science and Future Lab as well as £157,000 support for competitions and partnerships they spent £4,613,000. Hence a total of £11,884,000 of support was given by NESTA. This does not include £4,669,000 worth of programme support. Together this amounts to £16,553,000, which is the total support NESTA gave to its programmes.
	The operating costs for the last year available (2002–03) stands at £1,270,000; this includes a portion of staff salary not tied to the programme support, rent and other costs.

National Lottery

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expenditure of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in (a) science, (b) technology and (c) the arts was in each year since inception.

Estelle Morris: The data come from NESTA's Learning, Fellowship and Invention and Innovation Awards, Science Year/Planet Science and NESTA Futurelab. Expenditure on:
	
		NESTA 
		
			 Project type 1999–2000 (£) Percentage 2000–01 (£) Percentage 2001–02 (£) 
		
		
			 Science only 188,689 10 690,985 13 3,605,915 
			 Technology only 124,172 6 1,183,851 23 566,732 
			 Arts only 377,554 19 1,324,318 26 1,870,040 
			 Science and Technology 32,000 2 583,592 11 1,006,259 
			 Science and Arts 200,900 10 894,879 17 306,684 
			 Technology and Arts 1,024,747 53 368,395 7 1,054,113 
			 Science, Technology and Arts 0 0 92,343 2 103,919 
			 Total 1,948,062 — 5,138,363 — 8,513,662 
		
	
	
		NESTA
		
			 Project type Percentage 2002–03 (£) Percentage Total (£) Percentage 
		
		
			 Science only 42 3,307,364 28 7,792,953 29 
			 Technology only 7 1,474,244 13 3,348,999 12 
			 Arts only 22 2,666,376 23 6,238,288 23 
			 Science and Technology 12 2,930,514 25 4,552,365 17 
			 Science and Arts 4 317,032 3 1,719,495 6 
			 Technology and Arts 12 772,604 7 3,219,859 12 
			 Science, Technology and Arts 1 260,752 2 457,014 2 
			 Total — 11,728,886 — 27,328,973 —

National Lottery

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list projects in East Devon which have received funding from the National Lottery; and what amount was received in each case.

Estelle Morris: The Department's Lottery Awards database, using information supplied by the distributing bodies shows that 196 Lottery awards to a total of £5,499,026 have been made to the East Devon constituency.
	I am arranging for the list to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Royal Parks

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) salary and (b) bonuses were paid to (i) the Chief Executive and (ii) the senior staff of the Royal Parks Agency in the latest year for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: The latest year for which details are available of the salary and bonuses paid to the Chief Executive and senior staff of the Royal Parks Agency is financial year 2002–03. Details are set out in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Royal Parks

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) animals and (b) birds were culled in the Royal Parks in the last two years, broken down by (i) species, (ii) culling method used and (iii) use made of the carcass.

Richard Caborn: Responsibility for this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency, under its Chief Executive, William Weston.
	Letter from William Weston to Mr. Norman Baker
	I have been asked by the Secretary of State to reply to your Parliamentary Question about animals and birds culled in the Royal Parks in the past two years, and the use made of their carcasses.
	A total of 149 Red deer and 287 Fallow deer were shot during the annual deer culls; their carcasses were sold as venison, and the antlers for use in the craft trade. In addition, 37 adult Canada Geese were shot and 60 Canada Geese eggs pricked to prevent hatching. The bird carcasses were destroyed.

DEFENCE

45 Commando

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to relocate 45 Commando from RM Condor.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence keeps the size and location of its estate under constant review. Following on from Department-wide studies undertaken last year, the MOD is currently examining areas where rationalisation of the estate may be possible. RM Condor, Arbroath, which is the home of 45 Commando Royal Marines and 7 Battery Royal Artillery, is included in one such piece of work. A report has yet to be submitted, however, and no decisions have been taken on the future of this establishment. Any proposals arising from this—and any other study—will be subjected to full consultation.

Airfield Support Services Project

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on whether to proceed with a public private partnership solution for the Airfield Support Services Project.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 1307.

Astute Class Submarine

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will place an order for long lead items for the fourth Astute Class boat; and whether he has assessed the impact on the supply chain of delay in placing such an order.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has been working closely with UK industry to assess the implications for sub component suppliers arising from delays to the Astute submarine programme. Purchase of some long lead items for the fourth boat has begun and further measures are under consideration.

Education

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make changes to boarding school allowances; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Education allowances are provided to assist parents in ensuring continuity of education for their children, where it would otherwise be unacceptably disrupted by postings at home or abroad. There are no plans to change this approach.

Commanding Officers' Advice

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons a number of commanding officers have been told that individuals who have given notice to terminate their engagement may be given the option to leave sooner.

Ivor Caplin: As a result of the success we have had in recent years with various measures aimed at improving recruitment and retention, in-year targets have been exceeded and measures are therefore being taken to control whole Army strength. Commanding Officers have been told that individuals who have already given notice to terminate their service before 30 September 2004 may be permitted to depart early if this is acceptable to both the individual and the unit.

Dark Winter Anti-terrorist Exercise

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conduct of, and lessons learned from, the Dark Winter anti-terrorist exercise.

Adam Ingram: We have no record of a United Kingdom anti-terrorist exercise called Dark Winter. The United States authorities did, however, carry out an exercise with that name in 2001.

Defence Estates Core Sites

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) RAF Brampton and (b) RAF Wyton have been designated as core sites within the Defence Estates Core Sites Report of March 2003.

Ivor Caplin: I can confirm that RAF Brampton and RAF Wyton were designated as Core Sites, although following the recent announcement by the Chief of Defence Logistics about a proposed framework of changes to the current structure of the Defence Logistics Organisation, further work is in hand to assess the feasibility of collocating additional parts of the DLO alongside or close to the existing Ministry of Defence site at Abbeywood in Bristol. This will be followed by more detailed work which will also consider whether there are alternative Defence uses for RAF Brampton and RAF Wyton.

Defence Estates Core Sites

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants have been employed at (a) RAF Wyton and (b) the MOD premises at Abbeywood in each of the last five years.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish his review into Ministry of Defence property.

Ivor Caplin: In the Estate Strategy, "In Trust and On Trust" the Department defined its mainland Great Britain sites as "core" or "non-core" sites. Initial classification work was conducted last year but it is not our intention to publish the list. This is a working document and subject to constant detailed revision as the Department undertakes further work to clarify where estate rationalisation may be possible.

Depleted Uranium Oversight Board

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Depleted Uranium Oversight board (a) to report and (b) to be wound up; and when it last met.

Ivor Caplin: Under its terms of reference, the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) is required to report to the Under-Secretary of State for Defence on its progress, and additionally reports its proceedings publicly on the internet at www.duob.org.uk
	The DUOB last met on 27 January 2004. The main DU testing programme is expected to begin in mid 2004. The period over which testing will continue will depend on demand. It is not possible to say at this stage when the DUOB will be in a position to summarise its findings or when it might be wound up.

EU Defence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military capabilities that have been fully implemented as specified in the (a) Helsinki Headline Goal Catalogue 2003, (b) the Helsinki Force Catalogue and (c) the Helsinki Progress Catalogue.

Geoff Hoon: There is no Helsinki Headline Goal Catalogue 2003. The Helsinki Headline Goal Catalogue first compiled in 2000, and refined in 2001 and 2002, lists 144 military capability areas required of the EU in order to conduct the Petersberg Tasks within recognised crisis management scenarios. The Helsinki Force Catalogue 2003 and Supplementary Catalogue—which together list the actual forces and capabilities offered by member, accession and third states—show that at least 118 of these capability areas have been met. The Helsinki Progress Catalogue 2003 assesses the progress made overall in the delivery of Headline and Capability Goals, and outlines when new capabilities will feed in to the Force Catalogue. Work now continues—in conjunction with the European Capabilities Action Plan—to address those shortfalls that remain. New Force and Progress Catalogues are expected later this year, and will incorporate the offers made by the ten new members of the EU.

EU Defence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been introduced in the implementation of the EU Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: No changes have been introduced to the implementation of the Helsinki Headline Goal. However, with the evolution of the strategic environment and of technology, and following the inter-governmental conference and redefinition of the Petersberg Tasks, and with EU accession, continued progress in the European Capabilities Action Plan, the elaboration of rapid response elements, a European Security Strategy, and further work on rotation, readiness, concurrency and redundancy, a successor Headline Goal is now under discussion, with a target date of 2010. This Goal will place a new emphasis on interoperability, deployability and sustainability as its major themes. We anticipate an announcement at the European Council in June.

Foreign Ships

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1178W, on foreign ships, whether European Union guidelines prevent his Department from having a bias in favour of chartering ships flying the shipping flags of European Union member states rather than those of non-EU countries; and what changes were made to the process for chartering freight-carrying commercial ships following his Department's review in 2003.

Adam Ingram: MOD procurement, which reflects the Public Procurement Regulations that have their origins in the 1972 European Communities Act, is governed by the fundamental principle that there should be equal opportunity to tender for work without discrimination on the grounds of nationality. Charter of commercial shipping is, therefore, arranged using a panel of commercial shipping brokers on the global market.
	The 2003 internal Defence Transport and Movements Agency review of charter arrangements for freight-carrying commercial ships led to the introduction of a Safety Management System (SMS) incorporating a greater risk-based process. The SMS has been approved by the MOD Ship Safety Management Board. The comprehensive assessment of suitability for charter covers: the flag, as per the Paris Memorandum of Understanding; the ship's age; port state inspection record; classification society; nationality of owners/operators; Marine Superintendent's assessment; and previous record of MOD usage.

HMS Coventry/HMS London

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the present state of negotiations is between the United Kingdom and Romania for the sale of HMS Coventry and HMS London in return for Romanian military equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Following detailed negotiations, the Acquisition Agreement between the United Kingdom and Romania for the sale of ex-HMS Coventry and ex-HMS London (regenerated and updated) was signed on 19 December 2002 (and countersigned in January 2003). A 'Back to Back' contract between the MOD and BAE Systems was signed on 20 March 2003, permitting the Acquisition Agreement to become effective on 26 March 2003. Subsequently, the regeneration package has been refined and a suite of alterations and additions to the original design has been developed. The parameters of the offset programme were agreed in the negotiations leading up to the Acquisition Agreement.
	The disposal of these ships is not in exchange for Romanian military equipment. The agreed price will be paid in pounds sterling. Payments will be made in accordance with an agreed schedule of milestones.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prisoners are being held by coalition forces in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: As at 15 February 2004 there are 103 individuals held by UK forces in Iraq. We are not in a position to comment on the number of individuals held by other coalition partners.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the reports of investigations carried out by the Special Investigations Branch into civilian fatalities in Iraq allegedly caused by British forces which have concluded that no further action should be taken.

Adam Ingram: Reports of investigations carried out by the Special Investigations Branch will not be published.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suspected suicides among UK forces in Iraq have been investigated by the Royal Military Police.

Adam Ingram: There have been no suspected suicides in Iraq during Operation Telic.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the process is by which the rules of engagement for UK forces in Iraq are (a) agreed and (b) amended.

Adam Ingram: Rules of engagement, are drafted by operational staff taking into account the UK's obligations under national and international law and treaties such as the Geneva Protocols. Each rules of engagement profile is subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Defence, who may take farther advice from specialist advisers on any aspect. Requests for amendments are made by operational Commanders and submitted for approval by the Secretary of State in the same way.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Coalition forces in Iraq have common rules of engagement.

Adam Ingram: No. Rules of engagement remain a national responsibility governed by the domestic legislation of contributing states as well as by international law. Within that framework, however, Coalition partners liaise closely over rules of engagement, and harmonise them wherever possible.

Iraq

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings with parents of Service personnel killed in the Iraq conflict he has arranged.

Geoff Hoon: I have had four meetings with the families of individual Service personnel who died on operations in Iraq. I have had one meeting with the families of the six Royal Military Police killed in Majar Al-Kabir. Five of the six families attended.
	I also met relatives of those killed at the Operation Telic service of remembrance and reception in October 2003 and during the repatriation ceremonies I attended at Brize Norton in the spring of last year.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian contractors were employed under UK command to repair and maintain civil infrastructure in the (a) first 100 days and (b) six months following the end of high intensity military operations in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: No civilian contractors engaged in the repair and maintenance of the civil infrastructure in Iraq come under command of the United Kingdom military. However, the majority of projects being funded through the UK military's Quick Impact Project programme (more than 800 projects, valued at over $17 million) have relied, for their success, upon Iraqi contractors and sub-contractors. This is in line with our policy of supporting the use of skilled local labour and the stimulation of legitimate local economic activity wherever possible.

Iraq

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment was of the number of Al Hussein ballistic missiles possessed by Iraq prior to the onset of war; how this assessment differed from the assessment of the weapons inspectors; how many of the Al Hussein missiles had their long range capabilities removed prior to the onset of war; how many Al Hussein missiles were used against coalition forces during the war in Iraq; and how many Al Hussein missiles have been identified in Iraq since the war ended.

Geoff Hoon: The Al Hussein missile is a version of the Scud B missile modified to increase its range to 650 km.
	As stated in the Government's dossier on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction, it was assessed that Iraq had retained up to 20 Al Hussein missiles. These were either complete missiles; missiles broken down for concealment; or separate missile components capable of being reassembled. The UNMOVIC weapons inspectors assessed that it was possible that Iraq possessed a small number of Al Hussein missiles. The UNMOVIC report of March 2003 stated that the consumption of some Scud and Al Hussein missiles could not be independently verified and there were also unanswered questions about the number of indigenously produced warheads and training engines destroyed by Iraq. We have no knowledge of any Al Hussein missiles being modified to reduce their long range capabilities.
	There were no Al Hussein missiles used against coalition forces during the war in Iraq and, to date, there have been no Al Hussein missiles identified in Iraq since the war ended.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Ivor Caplin: A Defence Minister last travelled by train on 8 January 2004.
	All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in Travel by Ministers.

MOD Police

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the MOD Police manpower in North Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement on the MOD Police in North Wiltshire.

Ivor Caplin: All Ministry of Defence Police Area Policing Teams (APT), including that at Corsham, are being withdrawn in April 2004 and being replaced by Divisional Support Groups which will give the Chief Constable highly trained groups of officers which can be quickly deployed to respond to a variety of operational requirements. The nearest will be at Bulford Garrison and DSDC Ashchurch.
	There will continue to be an MDP complement at the Joint Support Unit Corsham.
	Due to shortage of office space there will be three officers from CID Foxhill based temporarily in the offices soon to be vacated by the APT Corsham unit.

MOD Police

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MOD Police are stationed at (a) Corsham, (b) Colerne, (c) Hullavington and (d) Lyneham.

Ivor Caplin: The number of Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers at the Joint Support Unit Corsham is 23. An MDP Area Policing Team of eight officers currently operates from Corsham. There are no MDP officers stationed at Colerne, Hullavington and Lyneham.

MOD Police

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many arrests the MoD Police in North Wiltshire made in the last 12 months of (a) civilians and (b) servicemen.

Ivor Caplin: The following arrests have been made by the Ministry of Defence Police based at the Area Policing Team (APT) Corsham, during the last 12 months.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Civilians arrested by APT Corsham 7 
			 Civilians arrested by Joint Support Unit (JSU) Corsham 1 
			 Service personnel arrests by APT 7 
			 Service personnel arrests by JSU Corsham 2

MOD Police

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have recently been made with regard to patrolling and other procedures by the MOD Police in North Wiltshire as a result of the heightened security state.

Ivor Caplin: No changes have been made to the Area Policing Team (APT) Corsham, with regard to patrolling and other procedures as a result of the heightened security state.

Naval Vessels

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on placing of orders for naval vessels in overseas shipyards.

Adam Ingram: It remains the policy of this Government that all warships for the Royal Navy will continue to be built in the United Kingdom. This entails all fabrication and assembly of new warship hulls but excludes weapon, command and propulsion systems, which may be procured from overseas, following open competition.

Royal Navy

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on trials of the Royal Navy's combat support system.

Adam Ingram: The trials of the Royal Navy Command Support System (RNCSS) in HMS Albion during April and November 2003 were the culmination of a series of demonstrations designed to test the effectiveness of the Royal Navy's command support capability. The trials were a success, with the 72 terminals in HMS Albion meeting the challenges presented in a number of exacting scenarios.

Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Typhoon aircraft he estimates will be ordered by each partner in the third tranche.

Adam Ingram: Under the 4-nation memorandum of understanding, the UK has undertaken to order 88 Typhoon aircraft in the third tranche, Germany 68, Italy 46 and Spain 34.

United States Bases/Forces

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States bases that have been handed back to the United Kingdom Government since 1974, indicating in each case (a) who paid for the restoration of the area and (b) what the cost was.

Ivor Caplin: The United States bases that have been returned to the Ministry of Defence since 1988 are listed as follows. No earlier information is available.
	Records about who paid for the restoration and at what cost are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	
		US bases handed back to MOD since 1988
		
			 Site/Facility Type Service Returned to MOD 
		
		
			 Bramley (S/S) USAF 1 January 1988 
			 RAF Ridgewell (S/S) USAF 3 August 1989 
			 RAF Wethersfield (SDB) USAF 1 October 1990 
			 RAF Chessington (Hosp) USAF 18 September 1991 
			 RAF Kirknewton (Hosp) USAF 26 September 1991 
			 RAF Hullavington (S/S) USAF 30 September 1991 
			 RAF Lanark (Hosp) USN 3 December 1991 
			 Greatworth (Comms) USAF 8 February 1992 
			 Great Bromley (Comms) USAF 1 May 1992 
			 Holy Loch (S/S) USN 17 June 1992 
			 Broughton Moor (NAD)  30 June 1992 
			 Martlesham Heath (Comms) USAF 1 July 1992 
			 RAF Kemble S/S USAF 31 July 1992 
			 Glen Douglas (NAD)  20 September 1992 
			 RAF Greenham Common (SDB) USAF 30 September 1992 
			 RAF Locking (Hosp) USN 1 October 1992 
			 RAF Sculthorpe (SDB) USAF 2 October 1992 
			 Cairnmore Hilloch (Comms) USN 28 October 1992 
			 RAF Inverbervie (Comms) USN 28 October 1992 
			 Latheron (Comms) USN 28 October 1992 
			 West Murkle (Comms) USN 28 October 1992 
			 Aberdeen (Comms) USN 10 November 1992 
			 RAF Kinnaber (Comms) USN 21 January 1993 
			 RAF Woodbridge (MOB) USAF 20 August 1993 
			 RAF Burtonwood S/S USAF 26 August 1993 
			 Forss (Comms) USN 14 September 1993 
			 RAF Bentwaters (MOB) USAF 30 September 1993 
			 Mormond Hill (Comms) USAF 7 October 1993 
			 RAF Caerwent (S/S) USAF 30 November 1993 
			 RAF Watton (S/S) USAF 12 May 1994 
			 RAF Bicester (S/S) USAF 30 June 1994 
			 RAF Little Rissington (Hosp) USAF 30 June 1994 
			 RAF Upper Hayford (MOB) USAF 30 Sept 1994 
			 RAF Machrihanish (S/S) USN 30 June 1995 
			 RAF Brawdy (S/S) USN 30 September 1995 
			 RAF Chicksands (Comms) USAF 30 September 1995 
			 RAF Chilwell (S/S) USAF 30 September 1995 
			 Framlingham (S/S) USAF 30 September 1995 
			 RAF Nocton Hall (Hosp) USAF 30 September 1995 
			 RAF Alconbury (Airfield) (MOB) USAF 1 October 1995 
			 Oakington (S/S) USAF 20 February 1996 
			 RAF Edzell (Comms) USN 30 September 1997

United States Bases/Forces

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the US National (Reserve) Guard are deployed on RAF bases occupied and controlled by the US Visiting Forces, (a) in total and (b) broken down by base.

Adam Ingram: A total of 208 US Army National Guards are currently deployed to RAF bases made available to the US Visiting Force, and are based at the following locations:
	
		
			 Location Number 
		
		
			 RAF Lakenheath 84 
			 RAF Mildenhall 84 
			 RAF Croughton 14 
			 RAF Molesworth 26 
			 Total 208

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest version of the Mutual Defence Agreement on Atomic Energy Matters, as amended in 1994.

Geoff Hoon: Copies of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement with the United States and its subsequent amendments are already in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom (a) is involved and (b) plans to be involved, under the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement on Atomic Energy matters, in the Hafnium-178 research at the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland in New Mexico; and what research Atomic Weapons Establishment is conducting into military uses of Hafnium-178.

Geoff Hoon: The United Kingdom is not involved with Hafnium-178 research in the United States under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, and has no current plans to become involved. There is no current research programme into the military uses of Hafnium-178 at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Visitors Centre

Andrew Robathan: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission whether he has consulted UNESCO regarding building a reception room for visitors to the Palace of Westminster.

Archy Kirkwood: The steering group preparing the UNESCO World Heritage Site Management Plan for Westminster has been fully informed and consulted.

TRANSPORT

Fuel Duty Rebate

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consultation on the fuel duty rebate;
	(2)  if he will give control of fuel duty rebate to those local transport authorities that have (a) a statutory quality partnership and (b) a quality contract scheme.

Tony McNulty: The April 2003 Budget announced that the Government would continue work on the review of bus subsidies as part of the wider review of the Transport 10-Year Plan. This includes consideration of Bus Service Operators' Grant (previously called fuel duty rebate). Further work will be guided by the need to ensure that local bus services better meet the needs of local people and communities and make effective use of public subsidy to deliver public aims. The review of the Transport 10-Year Plan is being taken forward in parallel with Spending Review 2004, which is expected to conclude in the summer.

Birmingham Airport

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation arrangements are available to Solihull constituents whose properties are blighted by the possibility of a second runway at Birmingham airport.

Tony McNulty: We have specified that the operators of airports where runway development is supported by the White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" should develop and bring forward local schemes to address the problem of generalised blight. I understand that Birmingham International Airport Ltd. hopes shortly to bring forward compensation schemes to deal with property affected by the proposals for a second runway.

Child Poverty

Barbara Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1590–91W.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Tony McNulty: pursuant to my answer, 12 February 2004, Official Report, c. 1661W
	I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 9 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1293–98W.

Local Authority Parking Places

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much surplus income from parking places each local authority received in the last year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: Separate statistics on surplus income from parking places are not collected centrally. Information is provided by local authorities down to district council level showing gross income and expenditure on all activities relating to parking. I have arranged for a table showing income and expenditure for authorities in England for 2002/03 to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Low-sulphur Diesel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage the use in diesel trains of low-sulphur diesel; what percentage of diesel trains use low-sulphur diesel; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 set a maximum sulphur limit of 0.1 per cent. which will come into effect in 2008. Currently the maximum permissible level is 0.2 per cent. Diesel trains on the UK network operate on gas oil, which typically has a sulphur content of 0.15 per cent. The Strategic Rail Authority is planning a summit of rail industry bodies to manage a transition to low sulphur gas oil.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a road safety campaign to discourage heavy goods vehicles from using the third lane on motorways.

Kim Howells: Heavy goods vehicles have been prohibited from using the right hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes, since 1967. This is explained in Rule 239 of the Highway Code. The evidence is that the law is appropriate, respected by drivers and effective.

Public Transport

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits of the introduction of reward cards to users of public transport.

Tony McNulty: The introduction of reward or loyalty cards is a commercial matter for public service operators and the Department has made no direct assessment of their benefits. But the Department will continue to encourage all public transport operators to explore new approaches with the potential to increase patronage and provide benefits to passengers.

Rail Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reinstate railway track between Salisbury and Exeter on the Waterloo Line.

Tony McNulty: There are no such plans at present. However, South West Trains will be introducing an hourly service from Waterloo to Yeovil in December. The Strategic Rail Authority has agreed with local authorities that they will then assess whether likely demand would justify extending the hourly service to Exeter and whether any infrastructure enhancements would be needed to allow this to happen.

Road Accidents

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents resulting in death or serious injury have occurred on the hard shoulders of motorways in England in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The table shows the number of accidents resulting in death or serious injury that have occurred on the hard shoulders of motorways in England for which The Highways Agency is responsible. This is shown in each of the last five years for which validated data are currently available.
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
		
		
			 1998 63 
			 1999 38 
			 2000 40 
			 2001 49 
			 2002 44 
			 Total 234

Road Noise

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget was set for noise mitigation measures on roads in each financial year since 2001–02; and what percentage of this budget was used for noise mitigation measures in each year, including 2003–04 to date.

Alistair Darling: A budget of £5 million was set for noise mitigation measures on roads for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04. 100 per cent. of the budget was used for noise mitigation purposes in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and we estimate that 100 per cent. of the budget will be used for noise mitigation purposes in 2003–04.

Road Safety

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's progress towards its targets of reducing the number of (a) road deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent. and (b) child deaths and serious injuries on roads by 50 per cent. by 2010.

David Jamieson: holding answer 10 February 2004
	Good progress is being made towards our casualty reduction targets for 2010 set in the Government's Road Safety Strategy. Overall deaths and serious injuries in 2002 were 17 per cent. down from their baseline, which is nearly halfway to the 40 per cent. target. Child deaths and serious injuries were 33 per cent. down, which is two-thirds of the way to that 50 per cent. reduction target. We aim to publish the first three-year review of the Road Safety Strategy in April, analysing the progress made in detail.

Ryanair

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1241W, on Ryanair Decision, when he expects to receive the full text of the European Commission's decision on the case of Ryanair at Charleroi Airport; and if he will make a statement on its implications for regional airports in the UK.

Tony McNulty: The European Commission will publish its Decision on Ryanair once the parties to the case have had the opportunity to consider it. We do not know how long that will take. We will need to see the full Decision before we can make a proper assessment of the implications, if any, for UK aviation.

Speed Management

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was raised in fines from speed cameras in Essex in each financial year since 1996–97, broken down by (a) court proceedings and (b) fixed penalties.

David Jamieson: holding answer 3 February 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 January 2004, Official Report, columns 243–44W. These are the latest figures available.

Speed Management

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when speed cameras were first introduced in Southend; and what the total number of speed cameras introduced was in each year since that date.

David Jamieson: Fixed speed cameras were first introduced in Southend in March 1995. The number of locations introduced in each year since that date is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Additional locations established 
		
		
			 1995 (5)4 
			 1996 0 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 (6)51 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 (6)13 
		
	
	(5) Fixed camera locations.
	(6) Fixed and mobile camera locations.
	The increase in sites in 2001 coincides with the Essex Partnership joining the safety camera netting off scheme.

Speed Management

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to commission a review of speed limits according to levels of risk on each category of road.

David Jamieson: The Department's review of speed management policy, published in March 2000, concluded that there was no case for a general change in the present 30 mph and 70 mph limits, but indicated that we intended to update the guidance to local authorities on the setting of local speed limits. The Transport Select Committee also recommended revised guidance in their 2002 report on Road Traffic Speed policy. Copies of these documents are available in the House of Commons Library.
	We plan to issue the new guidance later this year, following consultation with local authorities and other interested parties.

Stansted

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport further to the written statement of 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 68WS, what supporting documentation he intends to publish in relation to increased airport capacity at Stansted.

Alistair Darling: Supporting documentation for the decisions in "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper at Stansted and other locations has been published and placed in the Libraries of the House.

Vehicle Insurance/Taxation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a requirement for drivers to display proof of insurance on their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government are determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving. With that in mind we commissioned, last August, an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key focus. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. The Government will be taking a close interest in his recommendations and take appropriate action on them as soon as practicable.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Iraqi Oil

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which body is responsible for monitoring the volume and price of Iraqi oil exports; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: UNSCR 1483 charges the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) with, inter alia, auditing the sale of Iraqi oil.

Iraqi Oil

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) average spot price paid for and (b) volume sold of Iraqi oil on the international market in each month since June 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The average spot prices for sales of Iraqi crude oil each month since June 2003 are given in Table 1. Only a small volume of Iraqi oil has been sold on a spot basis.
	
		Table 1: Monthly average of the spot price of Iraqi oil -- US dollars per barrel
		
			  Basrah Light(7) Kirkuk(8) 
		
		
			 June 2003 26.1 24.2 
			 July 2003 26.5 26.4 
			 August 2003 27.5 28.3 
			 September 2003 24.8 Not applicable 
			 October 2003 27.4 Not applicable 
			 November 2003 27.3 Not applicable 
			 December 2003 29.3 Not applicable 
			 January 2004 30.1 Not applicable 
		
	
	(7) Monthly average of the daily spot price assessment of Iraqi Basrah Light crude delivered to the United States Gulf.
	(8) Monthly average of the daily spot assessment of Iraqi Kirkuk crude loading at Ceyhan in Turkey. Note that Kirkuk crude has been exported since August 2003. Kirkuk prices are on a Free On Board basis, meaning that all delivery, inspection and elevation or loading costs involved in putting the crude on board a carrier have been paid.
	Source:
	Platts

Business Internet Access

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of businesses with internet access greater than 2 Mbps.

Stephen Timms: The Government have recognised for some time the importance of broadband for business use. Through its UK online for business programme the DTI has worked to promote the benefits that broadband can bring. The Government have also worked hard with industry to extend broadband availability and will continue to promote broadband through its package of support to business. Increasingly, this will include pointing out the added benefits that can be gained through higher-speed broadband access.

Business Regulation

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations on business have been lifted since 2000; and if she will make a statement on future lifting of regulatory burdens on businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: The figures for number of regulations lifted are not held centrally.
	The Regulatory Reform Action Plan includes deregulatory measures and simplification of exiting compliance requirements. The original RRAP was published in February 2002 and contained 250 reforms, the update in December 2003 contained over 600.

Business Regulation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regulatory impact assessments have been put forward by the Better Regulation Task Force for the National Audit Office to review; and what subsequent action has been taken in each instance.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Audit Office (NAO) has published the Regulatory Impact Assessments in its pilot year sample on its website at the following address: www. nao.gov.uk/publications/workinprogress/rias.htm
	The NAO will shortly be publishing a Compendium Report on its findings.

Business Regulation

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of trends in the amount of time businesses spend on dealing with regulation; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The World Bank's "Doing business in 2004" survey of 130 countries ranked the UK in top 10 countries with least regulations, and the New Year survey of EU Business leaders by Handelsblatt ranked the UK No. l for competitiveness. The OECD has found the UK has almost the lowest administration cost and fewer regulations for entrepreneurs than any other EU country, while tax burdens on small businesses are lowest in the UK. A NatWest Survey of 851 UK companies showed a welcome fall in their concerns about red tape. Government policies which have contributed to this include; the following:
	the abolition of automatic fines for late VAT payment for 200,000 SMEs. In 1996–97 fines totalled £99 million;
	cutting form-filling and red tape for up to 700,000 SMEs with the flat rate VAT scheme;
	raising the statutory audit requirement to £5.6 million turnover to save 219,000 small businesses up to £274 million a year.
	The Government continue to work to reduce the burdens on business.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list each business support scheme that has been (a) launched and (b) terminated in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: All DTI funded business support schemes are being replaced with a small set of more strategically focussed products. Since January 2003, the DTI has launched the following:
	Small Firms Loan Guarantee
	Grant for Research and Development
	Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea
	Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
	Advanced Metals Technologies Initiative
	Supply Chain Groups
	Coal Investment Aid and
	Micro and Nanotechnology applied research programme
	The following products are to be made available during 2004:
	Collaborative R&D
	Knowledge Transfer Networks
	Access to Business Best Practice
	Support to implement best business practice
	Finance to encourage investment in specific areas of England and
	Enterprise Capital Funds
	It is not possible to list all the business support schemes launched in years prior to 2003.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reduce the number of business support schemes sponsored by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: All DTI funded business support schemes are being replaced with a small set of more strategically focussed products. Four of these new products (Small Firms Loan Guarantee, Grant for Research and Development, Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) have been available since spring 2003. Further products will be made available from April this year.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the business support schemes supported by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 998W.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many United Kingdom small businesses she estimates have failed as a result of the late payment or non-payment of debt in each of the last five years.

Nigel Griffiths: Accurate information regarding the number of business failures specifically attributable to late or non-payment of debt is not available.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated cost to United Kingdom small businesses was of the late payment or non-payment of debt in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Nigel Griffiths: Accurate information regarding the cost to small businesses of late payment or non-payment of debt is not available.

Call Centres

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  which call centres have relocated abroad from (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK in each year since 2000; and where they have relocated to;
	(2)  how many (a) call centres and (b) call centre-related jobs there are in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear, (iv) the North East and (v) the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are well aware of the heightened interest and concerns expressed about the offshoring of UK service operations, including call centres, to countries such as India, China and Eastern Europe. My Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations. We are conducting this research because reliable figures on call centre employment, including jobs lost and created, do not currently exist, and there are conflicting predictions on future employment trends. However, we are still seeing growth in UK call centres; for example, in the North East region Hays Travel is creating 160 job opportunities at its call centres in Sunderland, Newcastle and Stockton.

Call Centres

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) call centres and (b) call centre jobs there are in (i) South Yorkshire and (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are well aware of the heightened interest and concerns expressed about the offshoring of UK service operations, including call centres, to countries such as India, China and Eastern Europe. My Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations. We are conducting this research because reliable figures on call centre employment, including jobs lost and created, do not currently exist, and there are conflicting predictions on future employment trends. However, we are still seeing growth in UK call centres; for example, in the Yorkshire and Humberside region Ventura is creating 300 new job opportunities at its call centre in Rotherham.

Call Centres

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) call centres and (b) call centre jobs there are in (i) the North West and (ii) Lancashire.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are well aware of the heightened interest and concerns expressed about the offshoring of UK service operations, including call centres, to countries such as India, China and Eastern Europe. My Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations. We are conducing this research because reliable figures on call centre employment, including jobs lost and created, do not currently exist, and there are conflicting predictions on future employment trends. However, we are still seeing growth in UK call centres; for example, in the North West region Vertex is creating 1,000 new job opportunities at its call centres in Knowsley, Speke and Bolton.

Child Poverty

Barbara Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1590–91W.

Climate Change

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from (a) business and (b) industry representatives on the Government's Climate Change Programme, with particular reference to the viability of the emissions targets for (i) 2010 and (ii) 2020.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Climate Change Programme sets out the policy framework to ensure that the UK meets its Kyoto target, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below base year levels, and moves towards its domestic goal to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
	The Climate Change Programme, published in November 2000, was developed in close consultation with business, local authorities and a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Responses from all groups identified significant business opportunities for the UK from moving to a more energy efficient, lower carbon economy and less than 5 per cent. of businesses who responded believed that the programme would damage UK's competitiveness.
	Many respondents to the consultation on the draft Climate Change Programme noted the need to develop a longer term policy framework that would reduce emissions beyond 2010. The February 2003 Energy White Paper did just this, with its goal to put the UK on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050, with real progress by 2020.
	In developing the Energy White Paper, the Government held a large number of meetings and expert workshops along with a written consultation. There was concern, mostly from companies and trade associations, that competitive advantage should not be compromised by measures to address climate change. However there was also recognition of the advantages that would arise from moving towards a low carbon economy, such as through export opportunities in new renewable technology and engineering expertise, and through opportunities arising from job creation. A summary of the responses, and individual replies from businesses, to the written consultation can be found on the DTI website.

Coke Imports (China)

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the European Union on the suspension of duties on coke imported from China.

Mike O'Brien: None. The anti-dumping measures currently in force relating to imports of coke originating in China are due to expire in 2005, but are currently being reviewed by the European Commission. We must wait for the outcome of that review before deciding whether any approach to the European Commission is necessary.

Comoros Islands

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of bilateral trade between Britain and the Comoros Islands was in the last year for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to establish a diplomatic presence on the Comoros Islands.

Mike O'Brien: According to figures published by HM Customs and Excise, UK imports of goods from the Comoros Islands in 2002 were worth £211,000 while UK exports were worth £743,000. Our ambassador to Madagascar is cross-accredited to Comoros. He is due to present his credentials to the Comoran Government this week.

Company Ownership (Voting Rights)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on company ownership arrangements which grant a majority voting right for a minority share holding.

Jacqui Smith: Differential voting structures in companies (such as multiple voting rights or non-voting shares) were considered by the independent Company Law Review sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, which reported in November 2000 on this issue and concluded ("Completing the Structure", paragraph 5.47):
	We propose that the law should continue to place no restriction on the freedom of companies to have separate classes of shares with different voting (or other) rights.
	On the basis of the review's findings, my overall approach to such differential voting structures is that, provided they are properly disclosed to the markets and others having dealings with the company, they do enhance freedom and flexibility for companies to structure themselves according to their needs. I shall, however, continue to keep this matter under review.
	The Company Law Review documents are published on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/cld/review.htm.

Debt Repayment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of small businesses she estimates were forced to take legal action against late or non-payers of debt in the last year for which figures are available.

Nigel Griffiths: A survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland, conducted in January 2004, suggested that up to two fifths of small businesses have taken legal action against a customer for non-payment. The DTI does not make a separate estimate.

Employment Regulation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend the common commencement pilot for employment regulations to other areas of regulation.

Nigel Griffiths: In January, the Government gave a commitment in their recently published Action Plan for Small Business that they will consider extending the adoption of common commencement dates to other areas of domestic law, subject to the results of the current DTI pilot. Government will consult business on the priority areas and preferred dates.

Energy Innovations

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what energy innovation breakthroughs have been made in the United Kingdom since the publication of the Energy White Paper in February 2003.

Stephen Timms: Technological progress tends to follow an incremental path and major breakthroughs are less common. Notable events since February 2003 in relation to energy innovation include the commissioning of the UK's first large offshore wind farm (60MW) at North Hoyle, North Wales, the launch of the SUPERGEN sustainable energy research initiative, and the opening in the UK of the first marine energy test centre in Europe, which will help develop key tidal and wave technologies with support from DTI and others, including the Scottish Executive.

EU Chemical Regulations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on proposed EU regulation of chemicals.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Trade and Industry has received representations about the proposed legislation from a wide range of stakeholders, including the UK chemical industry and NGOs. My noble Friend the Minister for Science recently joined my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment, in a round-table discussion about this issue, which, in addition to industry and NGOs, also included representatives from the retail sector and trade unions.
	The Government will shortly issue a public consultation paper, which will offer all interested parties a further opportunity to provide us with their views. There are also plans to hold a stakeholder conference during the consultation period.
	The Government will continue to work with all interested parties to ensure the legislation is workable and delivers protection for human health and the environment. Representations from the UK and other member states have already helped to improve the proposal.

EU Structural Funds

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether departmental funding is used for EU matched funding.

Jacqui Smith: Yes, where appropriate. For example, substantial amounts of funding are made available via the Small Business Service. In addition, the department is exploring the option for co-financing structural funds with some of the new DTI business support products. Discussions on this and other aspects of match funding are taking place with a number of Regional Development Agencies and the Government Offices.

Export Licences (Ministry of Defence)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what proportion of export licences in respect of equipment for which advice is sought from the Ministry of Defence a substantive response was received from that Department within 20 working days of receipt in the last 12 months.

Nigel Griffiths: Since May 1997 the Government have published an Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls containing details of all goods authorised for export from the UK and to which destinations. These Annual Reports also contain information on 'performance in processing licence applications' providing a breakdown of the performance of the main Government Departments involved in the processing of SIELs (DTI, FCO, MOD, DFID) in that year. The Government's Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House.

Fuel Poverty

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) children and (b) elderly people are living in fuel poor households in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Nigel Griffiths: The current published official estimates of fuel poverty are extrapolated from a sample survey of 175,000 dwellings and fuel poverty is defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest on all fuels in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.
	The available information from the English House Condition Survey indicates that in 2001 there were an estimated 238,000 households affected in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
	More detailed estimates for sub-regional areas are not available from this survey as the sample sized is not large enough to enable reliable detailed estimates at a more local level to be produced.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 703W, on Iraq, what support the (a) UK, (b) US and (c) EU are giving to facilitate Iraq's ability to take responsibility for the necessary administration.

Patricia Hewitt: The UK recognises the importance of re-establishing normal conditions for trade in Iraq. This is detailed in the UK's Country Assistance Plan.
	The UK, through Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Department (HMCE), has been very active training, working with and restoring the operations of the Iraqi Customs Service. Chambers of Commerce are emerging in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk and in the area controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government, and are receiving support from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to create viable trade organisations in Iraq.
	The Commission have said that they will consider re-establishing GSP preferences for the country, when such viable trade organisations and a functioning and internationally recognised political authority exist in Iraq.

Manufacturing

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the levels of (a) manufacturing output and (b) employment in the manufacturing sector were in each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on changes in the size of the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom in the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Output at regional level is measured using Gross Value Added (GVA). The latest estimates of the output of the manufacturing sector for the regions run to 2000 and are provided in Table A. Estimates of the number of employee jobs within the manufacturing sector in each region and devolved administration of the UK run to 2002 and are provided at Table B.
	Between 1998 and 2002, across the United Kingdom, the total number of manufacturing jobs fell by just under 640,000—a fall of 15.4 per cent.
	During the same period, the index of output for UK manufacturing, measured at constant (2000) prices, fell by 1.8 percentage points.
	
		Table A: Total gross value added of the manufacturing sector by region/devolved Administration 1996 to 2000 -- £ million
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 UK 146,078 152,299 153,412 152,402 153,671 
			 North East 6,772 6,799 6,660 6,433 6,427 
			 North West 19,151 19,471 19,388 19,323 19,423 
			 Yorks and Humber 13,621 14,125 13,948 13,438 13,322 
			 East Midlands 13,412 14,155 14,183 13,952 14,011 
			 West Midlands 16,517 17,185 17,161 16,625 16,565 
			 East of England 12,714 13,306 13,429 13,229 13,333 
			 London 12,747 13,335 13,799 14,297 14,750 
			 South East 17,143 18,243 18,947 19,335 19,738 
			 South West 10,461 11,179 11,497 11,642 11,872 
			 Wales 7,797 8,007 7,941 7,775 7,826 
			 Scotland 12,638 13,182 13,034 12,787 12,673 
			 Northern Ireland 3,104 3,313 3,423 3,565 3,731 
		
	
	Source:
	Regional Economic Accounts, ONS
	Estimates of regional GVA are presented at current basic prices. They do not include taxes on products (such as Value Added Tax), and take no account of the impact of price inflation.
	Regional GVA by industry estimates allocate the earnings of commuters to their region of residence and not the region where they work (in those cases where the two differ).
	
		Table B: Annex A: Employee jobs within manufacturing 1998 to 2002
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 UK 4,150,449 4,028,762 3,894,620 3,703,061 3,512,244 
			 North East 186,729 173,208 169,357 159,595 158,873 
			 North West 529,604 514,114 499,360 473,257 448,988 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 409,542 394,375 383,832 373,775 353,789 
			 East Midlands 422,997 399,161 383,057 358,295 342,845 
			 West Midlands 553,432 532,880 493,846 460,040 445,794 
			 Eastern 353,160 327,716 333,244 327,586 307,363 
			 London 286,890 296,061 285,840 260,360 236,166 
			 South East 442,432 444,320 432,596 407,442 389,903 
			 South West 320,565 313,861 301,941 299,835 282,829 
			 Wales 208,160 206,857 200,600 188,958 184,644 
			 Scotland 326,688 315,020 302,043 294,162 263,552 
			 Northern Ireland 110,250 111,189 108,904 99,756 97,498 
		
	
	Source:
	GB Annual Business Inquiry, ONS and the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, NISRA
	The manufacturing jobs estimates refer to December of each year.
	These estimates cover the total number of both full and part-time jobs in the manufacturing sector and cover the number of employee jobs, not necessarily the number of people in jobs. If a person has more than one employee job it is possible that they could be counted twice in this measure.

Royal Mail

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the recent loss of mail in the Swansea area.

Stephen Timms: These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Metal Finishing Industry

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is proposed to meet the Commission of the European Communities communication COM (2003) 354 in respect of assistance to small operators in meeting administrative burdens and environmental challenges, with particular regard to the metal finishing industry.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	This June 2003 Communication from the European Commission set out the Commission's view on implementation of the 1996 directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) and invited responses to seven questions, among which was one about what support measures should be taken at EU, national, regional or local level to facilitate compliance by installations, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government response, submitted to the Commission on 12 September 2003 and available at http://www.defra. gov.uk/environment/ppc/cipp.htm, pointed out that, in the UK's experience, it is essential for regulators to work closely with operators—whether or not SMEs—to explain as precisely as possible what IPPC requires.
	In the case of the metal finishing industry, the Environment Agency is working with the Surface Engineering Association (SEA) to do that, raising awareness of the requirements and providing draft sector guidance. An Agency Sector Co-ordinator has been appointed to provide advice and support to the industry. Three IPPC Launch Workshops were held in January 2004 for the sector, each including a presentation by the SEA. The agency is supporting the Association's IPPC "club" arrangement under which a series of workshops will be held (led by a consultant and with Agency staff contributing) to help operators write their applications in a common and therefore more efficient approach to IPPC permit application and compliance. Revised IPPC guidance for the sector will be issued by the Environment Agency in mid-February.

Miners' Compensation/Pensions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average level is of final settlements that have been agreed so far to former miners suffering from (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger.

Nigel Griffiths: As of 1 February 2004 the average payment figure to each miner for respiratory disease was £7,715. The average payment figure for vibration white finger (VWF) was £8,354.

Miners' Compensation/Pensions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are in receipt of a pension from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme; and how much has been paid from the scheme in each year since it was established.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of pensioners in payment Amount of pension benefit paid(£ million) Amount of bonus payments(£ million) 
		
		
			 1994 251,674 355  
			 1995 243,147 359  
			 1996 243,257 364  
			 1997 241,217 398 23 
			 1998 241,068 483 69 
			 1999 237,132 485 76 
			 2000 234,568 488 82 
			 2001 234,455 531 119 
			 2002 237,929 584 127

National Grid

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current replacement rate of assets operated by the national electricity grid is.

Stephen Timms: Capital expenditure on asset replacement by the National Grid Company plc is currently of the order of £120 million per year, approximately one-third of NGC's total annual capital expenditure under its current regulatory price control. The value of the company's network assets is approximately £5 billion, which gives an average replacement rate of 42 years.
	NGC's asset replacement expenditure is based on a careful assessment of asset condition and not on a simple average asset age approach to replacement rate.

Offshoring

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the deadline is for the consultation document on the practice of offshoring which her Department has recently issued.

Patricia Hewitt: The consultation document invited comments by 30 January 2004. But we would still welcome comments from others who were not able to respond by this date. We are currently studying the information we have received carefully.

Post Office

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations Postwatch South East has received on Post Office Ltd.'s proposal to close the Fetcham sub-Post Office; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I understand that Postwatch South East received 98 representations during the public consultation period in Post Office Ltd.'s proposal to close Fetcham sub-Post Office under its urban network reinvention programme.

Post Office

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will undertake to take the final decision if Post Office Ltd. intends to fufil its proposal to close Fetcham sub-Post Office;
	(2)  when she expects to be able to make a decision on Post Office Ltd.'s proposal for closure of the Fetcham sub-Post Office.

Stephen Timms: Following public consultation on a post office closure proposal, as required under the Code of Practice agreed between Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch, the final decision on closure is an operational matter for the company.

Post Office

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent changes there have been to the rural to urban classification of post offices and sub-post offices in Mole Valley.

Stephen Timms: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that there have been no recent changes of rural to urban classification of post offices and sub-post offices in Mole Valley.

Post Office

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria the Post Office will use in deciding the future of post offices in Liverpool, Riverside which is recommended for closure.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to my hon. Friend.

Productivity

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that Faraday Partnerships have had on (a) the overall productivity of UK businesses and (b) reducing disparities in regional productivity.

Patricia Hewitt: The 24 Faraday Partnerships were designated on the basis of the needs of their respective sectors to accelerate new product development based on research. They feed into DTI's overall objectives for improving productivity and competitiveness in the UK.
	The Partnerships operate against business plans that are individually agreed with the public sectors sponsors (typically DTI and one or more Research Councils). Progress against the business plan is regularly assessed.
	Partnerships do not have a specific objective to reduce disparities in regional productivity; their aims are to improve knowledge transfer and overall performance in UK businesses wherever they are to be found.

Regional Development Agencies

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether regional development agencies only fund organisations located within the regions they serve; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Section 4 of the Regional Development Act 1998 sets out the five purposes of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). These purposes relate to the region covered by the RDA. RDAs may fund organisations, located outside their regions, if this benefits their regions and furthers their strategic objectives for the region.

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of regional development agencies (a) achieved their targets and (b) delivered their regional economic strategies and corporate plans in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Information on regional development agencies' achievements against targets set for 2002–03 was published on 7 July 2003, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	As regards the Regional Economic Strategies, the East Midlands Development Agency, One North East, the Northwest Development Agency, the South East of England Development Agency, the South West Regional Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward, published their Regions' current strategies in 2002, Advantage West Midlands and the London Development Agency published theirs in 2003 and the East of England Development Agency will publish a revised Strategy in 2004. The current Corporate Plans for each RDA cover the period 2003–06 and were approved by Ministers and published in 2003. The Regional Economic Strategies and Corporate Plans are available on each RDA's website.

Regional Development Agencies

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff each Regional Development Agency employs; what the total salary bill of each agency was in the last year for which figures are available; what the average salary per employee was in each case; and what the proportion of staff salary per thousand head of population was in each case.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2004
	The information is set out according to the most recent RDA annual reports for year ending 31 March 2003 (for reference the website for each RDA is provided in the table).
	
		
			 RDA Number of staff Total salary bill (£000) Average salary per employee (£) Midyear population estimate for 2002(9) Proportion of staff salary per 1,000 headof population (£) 
		
		
			 AWM 216 9,159 42,403 5,304,124 1,726.77 
			 EEDA 139 5,435 39,101 5,420,360 1,002.70 
			 EMDA 170 5,569 32,759 4,215,492 1,321.08 
			 LDA 236 7,541 31,953 7,355,354 1,025.24 
			 NWDA 291 10,784 37,058 6,770,981 1,592.68 
			 ONE 249 9,186 36,892 2,513,274 3,654.99 
			 SEEDA 182 8,118 44,604 8,037,140 1,010.06 
			 SWRDA 227 7,546 33,242 4,959,593 1,521.50 
			 YF 282 10,004 35,475 4,982,503 2,007.81 
		
	
	(9) Source:
	Midyear Population Estimates: Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	Copies of RDA annual reports are placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the internet. Figures for the current financial year should be published on RDA websites the following May.
	Advantage West Midlands (AWM): www.advantagewm.co.uk
	East of England Development Agency (BEDA) www.eeda.org.uk
	East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) www.emda.org.uk
	London Development Agency (LDA) www.lda.gov.uk
	North West Development Agency (NWDA) www.nwda.co.uk.
	One North East (ONE) www.onenoriheast.co.uk
	South of England Development Agency (SEED A) www.seeda.co.uk
	South West Development Agency (SWRDA) www.southwestrda.org.uk
	Yorkshire Forward (YF) www.yorkshire-forward.com

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to (a) raise awareness of regional venture capital funds and (b) reduce regional disparities in application levels, especially within areas of lower entrepreneurial activity.

Nigel Griffiths: Government have invested £120,000 to raise awareness of the Regional Venture Capital Funds including holding a National Conference. We have also supported the regional launches of the nine Regional Venture Capital Funds and I have attended several events to launch or promote RVCF.
	Officials regularly review the performance of all the Funds including the number of applications received. Any areas of concern are raised by my officials at the regular Advisory Committee meetings. I have asked officials to investigate any regional disparities and to report their findings back me.

Renewable Energy Conference

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how her Department was represented at the European Conference for Renewable Energy—Intelligent Policy Options, held in Bonn on 19 to 21 January; and what response she plans to make to the recommendations and conclusions of the conference.

Stephen Timms: The Director of Energy Innovation and Business Unit represented DTI at the Berlin Conference.
	We note the conclusions and recommendations of the conference, which will form the basis of a more detailed discussion at the upcoming International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn, 1 to 4 June, 2004, the preparations for which are already under way. The Government support efforts at the international level to strengthen commitment to achieving progress on the penetration of renewables in the energy market.

Bribery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department has spent on implementing (a) the OECD convention on combating bribery in each year since 1997 and (b) Part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 in each year since it came into force.

Mike O'Brien: The Department's main role in implementing the OECD convention and the relevant part of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act is promoting awareness of them among UK businesses and liaising with the OECD on policy development and implementation. As a result, the majority of DTI expenditure in implementing these instruments has been on human resources, with a number of officials contributing. Their time is equivalent to at least one full time post. Our expenditure is not recorded in such a way as to permit a precise analysis of the year-by-year spend against-implementing these specific instruments.

Small Business

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which statutory inspectors have a right of entry to small businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI responsibilities where there is a right of entry relevant to small businesses include the following; Export Control, Employment Agency Standards, Trading Standards (enforced through local authorities). I encourage all appropriate enforcement authorities to sign up to the Enforcement Concordat to ensure that inspections are carried out fairly.

Small Business

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 650W, on the Small Business Service, what the cost was of the programmes delivered by the Small Business Service for each year between 2000 and 2003.

Nigel Griffiths: The Programme cost of Small Business Service for each year between 2000 and 2003 are shown below. These figures are available in the Small Business Service Annual reports deposited in the Libraries of the House.
	
		
			  Programme cost (£ million) 
		
		
			 2000–01 244 
			 2001–02 268 
			 2002–03 336

Small Business

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 650W, on the Small Business Service, what the running costs of the Small Business Service were for 2000, including agency staff and secondments.

Nigel Griffiths: The running cost of the Small Business Service for 2000–01 including agency staff and secondments was £10,195,000.

SMART Awards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what value of SMART awards were issued for each year between 1998 and 2003.

Nigel Griffiths: The information is as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial year Number of awards(10) Value of awards(10) 
		
		
			 1998–99 402 24.0 
			 1999–2000 396 19.3 
			 2000–01 578 28.6 
			 2002–03 829 34.0 
			 2003–04(11) 618 28.5 
		
	
	(10) Offers of grant.
	(11) To end of Q3.
	The figures are for offers of grant made under the Smart scheme between 1 March 1998 and 31 December 2003. Smart formally closed to applications on 31 August 2003. The new Grant for Research and Development which replaces the Smart scheme, began accepting applications on 1 June 2003.

Euro

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from British business on the possible effects of the collapse of the euro area stability and growth pact.

Patricia Hewitt: I have received representations from several members of the business community. The Government support a prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact, taking into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment.

Statutory Audit Threshold

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultation she has undertaken on raising the statutory audit threshold; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: In July 2003 the Department published a consultation document on the proposal to increase the thresholds below which most small companies can be exempt from audit. A copy of the consultation document is available for reference in the Libraries of the House. Copies of responses to the consultation are available from the DTI library.
	The Regulation increasing the audit exemption thresholds came into force on 30 January 2004 and applies in respect of financial years ending two months later.

Sustainable Energy

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation and effectiveness of the Sustainable Energy Policy Network since its establishment under the Energy White Paper of February 2003; and how many times the Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board has met since its inception.

Stephen Timms: The Sustainable Energy Policy Network (SEPN) was established to drive forward the implementation of the Energy White Paper and will be judged on that basis. It comprises Government Departments, regulators, agencies and regional organisations which have a direct role to play in delivering the White Paper's commitments. The Government will report on progress in 2003–04 shortly after the Easter recess.
	The network includes a number of structures:
	the Ministerial Group offers strategic direction and is chaired jointly by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
	the Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board provides independent expert advice to Ministers. The Board met for the first time in December 2003 and its second meeting will be in March;
	the Programme Board comprises senior officials accountable to ministers for delivering the commitments set out in the White Paper.
	Further details are set out in the SEPN website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/index.shtml.

Asbestos Claims(T&N Ltd.)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the administrators of T&N Ltd. to discuss compensation for former employees suffering from asbestos-related illnesses; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not had a meeting with the Administration of T&N Ltd. to discuss this issue, as the payment of compensation to the former employees does not fall within her areas of responsibility.

Asbestos Claims(T&N Ltd.)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid for the services of the UK administrators of T&N Ltd. since they were appointed; and what the weekly fee paid to (a) them and (b) their solicitor is.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Administration is a collective insolvency procedure and it is for creditors to determine the administrators' remuneration. Insolvency legislation provides that creditors who consider an administrator's remuneration to be excessive can apply to the court for it to be reduced.

Asbestos Claims(T&N Ltd.)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the latest estimate is of when Federal Mogul are likely to be out of administration; what is being done to protect the interests of the former T&N employees suffering from asbestos-related illnesses in the meantime; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2004
	T&N went into administration when Federal Mogul a US-based manufacturing group filed for bankruptcy in the US. T&N's discharge from administration is dependent on Federal Mogul's discharge from bankruptcy.
	A Global Reorganisation Plan for Federal Mogul, which includes a Trust Distribution Plan to handle payments to all asbestos claimants in the group, is to be put before the US Bankruptcy Court this week. If the plan is approved the Administrators hope to be in a position to apply for the discharge of the administration order against T&N in the final quarter of 2004.
	Asbestos claimants of T&N were represented on a committee established in the US bankruptcy proceedings that have been involved in negotiating the Trust Distribution Plan. The Administrators have negotiated to improve the treatment of UK asbestos claimants within the Plan and have taken legal proceedings against T&N's Employer Liability insurers, which, if ultimately successful, will directly benefit T&N's employee claimants.
	Administration is a collective court-based insolvency procedure and it would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to make a statement regarding this administration.

Communications Masts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many TETRA masts in England are (a) in place and (b) planned in total for complete roll-out in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Sussex.

Stephen Timms: Ofcom has provided the following figures.
	United Kingdom
	The Airwave network currently has around 2,200 sites and has plans to install a further 1,100. Dolphin operates 951 live sites and subject to customer requirements plans to install a further 10. The West Midlands Ambulance service has six sites with no plans at present for more. London Underground plans to install 270 sites, with rollout to commence shortly. Sussex
	Airwave have 65 sites in place and plan to install a further 15. Dolphin have 20 sites with no further installations planned for 2004 unless customer requirements change.

University Challenge Seed Funds

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that University Challenge Seed Funds have had on (a) the overall productivity of UK businesses and (b) reducing disparities in regional productivity.

Patricia Hewitt: Since their establishment the Challenge funds have invested £47.3 million in projects which will improve UK productivity by making our excellent science and engineering base more easily accessible to business.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings have been held between her Department's liabilities management unit and the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM); what matters have been discussed with CoRWM at such meetings; and what decisions have been taken.

Stephen Timms: My Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) and NDA Team have held two meetings with CoRWM to discuss the establishment of the NDA, as part of the on-going work of the Committee.
	This dialogue will continue.

Wind Farms

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the number of wind turbines which will be required to meet Government targets on renewable energy in the United Kingdom.

Stephen Timms: To meet the Government's target of 10 per cent. of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2010 we expect that approximately 3,500 to 5,000 wind turbines will be required. This includes both onshore and offshore turbines, and assumes that around 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. of electricity is generated from wind with the remaining 2 per cent. to 3 per cent. from other renewable sources.

Wind Farms

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the potential hazard posed by wind turbines to migrating bats.

Stephen Timms: Studies 1 of the impact of wind farms on wildlife suggest that there is a small risk of bat strikes from the operation of wind turbines but that this occurs on a very irregular basis due to the good echolocation systems that bats use to navigate.
	In addition, under the normal planning regime and for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 regime or the Transport and Works Act 1992 wind farm developers are required to consider all environmental aspects of wind energy projects and produce an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to the public.
	The great majority of British bat species do not undertake large scale migrations and so would not be expected to interact with offshore wind farms. The exception to this is Nathusius's pipistrelle which is known to undertake long distance migrations in Europe (including sea crossings), but this is an uncommon species in the UK. The potential for bat interactions with wind turbines is recognised and are being considered in the Strategic Environmental Assessments that will precede any future offshore wind farm licensing rounds.
	Similarly, bats are listed as a consideration in guidance "Background document on problems and benefits associated with the development of offshore wind farms" issued by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR document EIHA 03/4/6-E(L)) and thus potential effects on bats would be expected to be assessed in project specific Environmental Impact Assessments for offshore wind farms.
	1 Crockford, N, February 1992. A review of the Possible Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds and Other Wildlife (Joint National Conservation Committee report no. 27); JNCC, Peterborough
	1 National Wind Co-ordinating Committee, December 1999. Studying wind energy/bird interactions: A Guidance document: NWCC, Washington DC (USA)

Wind Farms

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been undertaken by (a) her Department, (b) the Energy Technology Support Unit on behalf of her Department and (c) consultants for her Department on (i) shadow flicker and (ii) noise from wind farms.

Stephen Timms: Research on wind turbine noise has been carried out under the Department's New and Renewable Energy Programme. Copies of the reports 1 from those studies are available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/publications. No research has been carried out into shadow flicker from wind turbines under the DTI's New and Renewable Energy Programme. However, others have conducted research in this area and references 2 to those studies are provided as follows.
	1 "The Assessment & Rating of Noise from Wind Farms" ETSU-R-97
	"Noise Emission from Wind Turbines" ETSU W/13/00503/REP
	"Low Frequency Noise and Vibrations Measurement at a Modern Wind Farm" ETSU W/13/00392/REP
	"Assessment of the Effects of Noise and Vibration from Offshore Windfarms on Marine Wildlife" ETSU W/13/00566/REP
	"Aerodynamic Noise Reduction for Variable Speed Turbines" ETSU W/45/00504/REP
	"Machine Tests for Audible Noise Emission on an Atlantic Corporation 15/50kw Wind Turbine Installed on the Carmichael Estate" ETSU W/24/00472/REP3
	2 Clarke, A. D. (1991), A Case of Shadow Flicker/Flashing: Assessment and Solution, Open University, Milton Keynes
	Clarke, A. D. October (1995). Assessment of Proposed Wind Energy Project at Meenacahan, Donegal, Ireland, for Shadow Flicker. Report for B9 Energy Services Ltd.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Gender Pay Gap

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women what the difference in pay was between (a) full-time and (b) part-time male and female workers in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The following table shows (a) the full-time hourly pay gap and (b) the part-time hourly pay gap, measured as the difference in hourly pay between women working part time and men working full time since 1997.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Full-time pay gap Part-time pay gap 
			  Mean Median Mean 
		
		
			 1997 19.8 16.2 42 
			 1998 20.0 16.2 43 
			 1999 19.2 15.4 42 
			 2000 18.9 15.0 40 
			 2001 18.5 14.5 41 
			 2002 19.0 14.3 41 
			 2003 18.0 12.9 40 
		
	
	The Government are taking steps to address the underlying causes of the full-time and part-time gender pay gap. The part-time pay gap, which closed by two full percentage points over the period 1997 to 2003, is significantly bigger than the full-time pay gap.
	To some extent this reflects the occupations that part-time work has historically been concentrated in. The Government are seeking to encourage alternative ways of working for both women and men through initiatives such as the Work-Life Balance campaign, and legislation such as the new law for working parents which enables parents with children under six or disabled children under 18 to request to work flexibly, whilst placing a duty on employers to seriously consider such requests.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the hon. Members who are not Cabinet Ministers who have (a) security clearance for and (b) passes to No. 10 Downing street.

Tony Blair: We do not comment on security arrangements for No. 10 Downing street.

10 Downing Street

John Grogan: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on the serving of beer at official receptions held at No. 10 Downing street.

Tony Blair: Catering at official functions held at No. 10 Downing Street is provided by the Government Hospitality Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and a mixture of soft and alcoholic drinks including beer is served as appropriate.

Dr A. Q. Khan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Musharraf of Pakistan the case of Abdul Qader Khan.

Tony Blair: We remain in contact with the Pakistani Government over counter-proliferation issues, including the case of Dr. A. Q. Khan.

EU Migrants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with (a) the presidents of (i) Austria, (ii) Finland, (iii) France, (iv) Italy and (v) Spain, (b) the Prime Ministers of (A) Belgium, (B) Denmark, (C) Greece, (D) Ireland, (E) Luxembourg, (F) Portugal, (G) Sweden and (H) the Netherlands and (c) the Chancellor of Germany about the expected number of migrants coming to their respective countries after enlargement of the European Union.

Tony Blair: I have regular discussions with Governments of EU countries on a wide range of international and European issues including on migration and the forthcoming enlargement.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason the words 'if he believes his regime is under threat' were excised from the final version of the September 2002 dossier; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: As Lord Hutton said in his report, the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) had overall responsibility for the dossier of 24 September and accepted only drafting suggestions which were consistent with the intelligence known to the JIC.

Middle East

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister whether it is his policy that Israel should cease building settlements and the security wall on Palestinian territory unconditionally; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: As we have made clear, we consider all settlements in the Occupied Territories illegal under international law and an obstacle to a comprehensive peace in the region. The Government regularly presses the Israeli Government to freeze settlement activity and dismantle outposts in line with Israel's commitments under the roadmap.
	We condemn unequivocally the suicide bombing of Israeli civilians and we understand Israel's need to take steps, within international law, to protect itself from terrorist attack. But we have made clear that we regard the wall Israel is building on occupied Palestinian land as unlawful.

Middle East

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the principal barriers to peace in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The path towards a renewed political process is through the Quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) roadmap. Both the Palestinian and the Israeli Governments should implement their roadmap commitments without delay.
	The Palestinian leadership should renew its determination to tackle violence and dismantle terrorist capabilities and make further progress on Palestinian Authority reform. Israel should remove settlement outposts erected since March 2001, freeze all settlement activity and reroute the fence away from Palestinian land. Israel should also seek to improve the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Territories.

Minister for Women

Tim Loughton: To ask the Prime Minister if he will add interests in parental contact to the responsibilities of the Minister for Women.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.

Headed Paper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what authority members of the Prime Minister's staff have to use 10 Downing street headed paper subsequent to employment in his Office.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Solicitor-General if the Attorney-General will release his full opinion on the legality of the war in Iraq to Parliament before the Butler Committee has reported.

Harriet Harman: No. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) of 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 693W, there is a long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, that advice which the Law Officers have given to the Government is not publicly disclosed. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4(d) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Sir Roy Meadow

Tim Loughton: To ask the Solicitor-General what directions she has issued to local authority departments to identify and secure documents relating to cases involving infanticide or harm to children which relied on expert testimony from Sir Roy Meadow.

Harriet Harman: With regard to the review of criminal cases, a total of 258 convictions over the past 10 years for the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of a child under two by its parent have been identified. Of those, a total of 72 relate to persons still serving a custodial sentence. These will be accorded the utmost priority. Currently, some 365 boxes of evidence relating to 52 high profile cases have been recovered from central storage and dispatched to CPS areas for them to conduct an initial review. The remaining high profile cases are being recovered from the areas themselves.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Butler Inquiry

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether individuals will be able to put themselves forward as prospective expert witnesses to the Butler Inquiry into weapons of mass destruction intelligence;
	(2)  what the (a) contact postal address and (b) e-mail address of the Butler Inquiry into intelligence gathering and use are.

Jack Straw: On 12 February the Butler Review announced that the Committee would in due course be taking oral evidence from a number of witnesses at its own invitation. But it is also inviting anyone who has information that might assist it in considering its remit to submit evidence by 31 March 2004 by post to the Secretary, The Butler Review, Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS; by email to secretary@butlerreview.org.uk.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what his involvement has been in planning Operation Artemis; and what discussions he has had with the police with regard to Operation Artemis;
	(2)  what the likely cost to the police is of Operation Artemis;
	(3)  when he last met the Chief Constable of North Wales to discuss Operation Artemis;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on his policy on Operation Artemis.

Bill Rammell: At the request of the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council agreed to the deployment in June 2003 of an Interim Emergency Multinational Force (Operation Artemis) to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The purpose of the operation was to support the UN Mission present in the country and to provide a secure environment under which the interim Administration could function. Operation Artemis was a French-led European Security and Defence Policy force, over which the EU's Political and Security Committee exercised political control and strategic direction. It was deployed for a short period until 15 September 2003 and was a military mission with no civilian police involvement.
	The UK contributed some 85 military personnel to Operation Artemis. The Operation's mandate expired on 15 September 2003, by which time all forces involved had been withdrawn from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Outer Space Treaty

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government continue to support the outer space treaty.

Denis MacShane: Yes.

Colombia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Colombian Government regarding human rights issues, with particular reference to (a) press, (b) trade union and (c) religious freedoms.

Bill Rammell: Both I and our Embassy in Bogota have regular discussions with the Colombian government, and also with NGOs and trades unions, about human rights issues. We frequently raise specific cases with the Colombian government. The Colombian Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, the right to establish and participate in trades unions and religious choice. We continue to urge the Colombian Government to bring the perpetrators of human rights crimes swiftly to justice and to take effective measures to protect all vulnerable groups at risk from illegal armed groups in Colombia. We have underlined the importance of the Colombian government implementing the specific recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Colombia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent arrests of church leaders in Colombia.

Chris Mullin: Neither our Embassy nor the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogota is aware of recent arrests of Church leaders in Colombia. If additional information can be provided we would be willing to investigate further.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not spend funds on branding the Department.

Departmental Expenditure

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on implementing (a) the OECD convention on combating bribery and (b) Part 12 of the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 in each year since 1997.

Denis MacShane: Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure in this area involves work by staff at home and abroad and is not recorded in such a way as to permit an answer to this question. UK Trade and Investment, which is co-funded by my Department and the Department for Trade and Industry, has produced a guidance leaflet on UK Bribery and Corruption Law. A small amount of other expenditure, for example on travel costs, has been incurred but is not accounted for separately from other related activities.

Drugs Production

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the results of Plan Colombia on drugs production and use (a) in Colombia and (b) elsewhere.

Chris Mullin: According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) latest survey, available on the UN website: www.un.org, there was a 30 per cent. decrease in the amount of coca cultivated in Colombia in 2002: 102,071 hectares at the end of 2002, compared with 144,807 hectares at the end of 2001.
	While cultivation in Colombia decreased in 2002, there was an increase in Peru and Bolivia and farmers have increased productivity through the introduction of higher yielding varieties of coca and by increasing the number of plants planted per hectare.
	Drug consumption is believed to be rising in Colombia. Latest UN figures for global consumption indicate that the number of people consuming drugs regularly were 200 million worldwide in the period 2000–01 compared with 185 million worldwide in the period 1998–2000.

Drugs Production

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have taken place since the end of the war in Afghanistan in levels of (a) poppy cultivation and (b) heroin production in areas previously controlled by (i) the Taliban and (ii) the Northern Alliance.

Bill Rammell: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan.
	According to the UNODC annual survey, the estimated volume of opium production and cultivation in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Hectares Tonnes 
		
		
			 2001 8,000 185 
			 2002 74,000 3,400 
			 2003 80,000 3,600 
		
	
	Since the end of the war in 2001, survey figures have recorded rises in opium poppy cultivation and production in all provinces, including those controlled previously by the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. However the low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation, which did not address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and was enforced with a mix of threat and bribery.

Somalia

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will investigate the allegations of (a) genocide, (b) crimes against humanity and (c) war crimes against General Mohammed Hersi Morgan, while Governor of Hargeisa in 1988;
	(2)  if he will pursue at the United Nations the allegations of (a) genocide, (b) war crimes and (c) crimes against humanity in Hargeisa in 1988;
	(3)  if he will assist the Government of the Republic of Somaliland in pursuing those responsible for the alleged war crimes in Hargeisa in 1988.

Chris Mullin: In 1988 the then British Government expressed concern at reports of serious human rights violations in Somalia and suspended their aid programme. We have no current plans to take further action in relation to those events. Our priority for the moment is to achieve stability and peace in the south.

Iran

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Iranian Government on (a) cultural and (b) educational programmes.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed educational and cultural matters with the Iranian Government, most recently during the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to London in February 2003.
	In the last few years, the Government has stepped up its promotion of educational and cultural links with Iran, for example through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening Scholarships scheme, which enables a number of high-achieving Iranians to study at UK universities each year. The British Council reopened in Tehran in 2001.

Iran

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had while in Iran on the treatment of (a) different ethnic groups and (b) women within that country; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iran in October 2003, with his French and German counterparts. On that occasion, the three Ministers decided to focus their discussion with Iranian leaders solely on the nuclear issue. But in his other frequent contacts with the Iranian Government, he has made clear our serious concerns about discrimination against and persecution of women and minorities in Iran.

Iran

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had while in Iran on the development of democracy in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iran in October 2003, with his French and German counterparts. On that occasion, the three Ministers decided to focus their discussion with Iranian leaders solely on the nuclear issue. However, in other contacts with the Iranian Government, he has made clear our support for the development of democracy and reform, and our deep concern at the disqualification of candidates from the parliamentary elections on 20 February.

Iran

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he (a) received and (b) made while on his recent visit to Iran on religious freedoms.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iran in October 2003, with his French and German counterparts. On that occasion, the three Ministers decided to focus their discussion with Iranian leaders solely on the nuclear issue. However, in other contacts with the Iranian Government, he has made our serious concerns about restrictions on religious freedom in Iran and the persecution of people for their beliefs.

Iran

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he (a) received and (b) made while on his recent visit to Iran, on the recent mass resignation of Iranian MPs; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iran in October 2003, before the disqualification of candidates for the Majlis elections and the mass resignation of Iranian MPs. In contacts with Iranian leaders since the current dispute began, he has made clear our deep concerns. For elections in any country to be free and fair, it is essential that voters should be able to choose from a range of candidates.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  for what reason elements of the PhD thesis by Dr. Ibrahim al Marashi were incorporated into the Government's second dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason elements of the PhD thesis by Dr. Ibrahim al Marashi were altered before incorporation into the Government's second dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; who authorised these alterations; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  who authorised the use of parts of the PhD thesis by Dr. Ibrahim al Marashi in the Government's second dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; when the decision to do so was taken; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The circumstances surrounding the inclusion of Dr. Al Marashi's PhD thesis in the document produced by the Communications Information Centre in February 2003, and the roles of the officials involved, were set out in a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee by the then Director of Communications at 10 Downing street dated 24 June 2003 (paragraphs 11–16), and in his evidence before the Committee on 25 June 2003 (questions 1064–1090).

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Iraqi Governing Council regarding Sharia law in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: It is for the Iraqis to debate and decide the future laws suitable for their country. We will seek to use our influence, however, to ensure that Iraqi law is compatible with international human rights standards.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he expects will become of the (a) International Advisory and Monitoring Board and (b) Iraq Development Fund after a sovereign government of Iraq is established; to whom control of the monies will be passed; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: According to UN Security Council Resolution 1483, Iraqi revenues from the export of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas should be deposited into the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) until an
	"internationally recognised, representative government of Iraq" is formed. Unless the Security Council decides otherwise, it will then be for that government to decide how they handle future revenues. At the same time, there will remain a continuing obligation on UN member states to transfer financial assets or economic resources of the former Iraqi regime to the DFI.
	Resolution 1483 does not envisage an end to the International Advisory Monitoring Board (IAMB) with the formation of an Iraqi government. Unless the Security Council decides otherwise, we would expect the IAMB to continue in existence after the formation of that government.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British representatives sit on the Programme Review Board which determines expenditure in Iraq; what the relationship of the Board to (a) the United Kingdom Government, (b) the US Government and (c) the Iraqi Governing Council is; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Programme Review Board (PRB) was established to enable emergency or unanticipated extra-budgetary spending requests to be brought to a joint Iraqi-Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) body for assessment and authorisation. CPA Regulations 2–4 (available online at www.cpa-iraq.org) outline the criteria for the PRB's operations.
	The relationship of the UK and US Governments and the Iraqi Governing Council to the PRB is reflected in the distribution of voting members of the PRB. which includes representatives of:
	the Governments of the United Kingdom and Australia;
	the Iraqi Minister of Finance (who is accountable to the Iraqi Governing Council);
	Officials from the US and other coalition members from the CPA's Economic Affairs, Governance and Security Policy Offices, and Office of Infrastructure and Operations;
	the Iraqi Council for International Co-operation;
	and the Coalition Military (Combined Joint Task Force 7).
	One UK Voting Member may attend the Board.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition he uses of humanitarian intervention, with particular reference to the invasion of Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Our decision to take military action was to enforce Iraq's disarmament obligations, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. It was taken as a last resort. The Iraqi regime's refusal to cooperate left us with no option. Authority to use force against Iraq derived from the combined effect of UNSCRs 678, 687 and 1441; and all of these resolutions were adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the use offeree for the express purpose of restoring international peace and security.
	Clearly, however, the removal of Saddam Hussein's oppressive regime has had humanitarian benefits for the Iraqi people. The coalition and international community are helping to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. Donors have committed $33 billion in grants and concessional loans; and Iraq's assets and oil revenue are now being used for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UN Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission inspectors discovered at the Al-Rafah test site; whether additional information has since been found by the Iraq Survey Group; and whether the Government has obtained further information since September 2002 on Al-Rafah in addition to that produced by the UN Special Commission on Iraq and the Iraq Survey Group.

Chris Mullin: As reported by Dr. Hans Blix in the UN Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) working document on unresolved disarmament issues published on 6 March 2003, UNMOVIC inspectors discovered the construction of a new liquid propellant test stand at Al-Rafah designed for both horizontal and vertical testing of engines for Al-Samoud missiles.
	The Iraq Survey Group is continuing to carry out investigations at sites throughout Iraq. They will present their findings in due course.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library all minutes in English of the Coalition Provisional Authority Program Review Board to date.

Jack Straw: Yes. These minutes are also available on-line at the Coalition Provisional Authority website: www.cpa-iraq.org/budget/program review board.html.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other support the Government are giving to promote inter-religious dialogue in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government are funding an inter-faith conference in Baghdad this month, organised by Iraqis with support from the International Centre for Reconciliation based at Coventry Cathedral. Participants have been drawn from the leaderships of mainstream Iraqi religious communities. This is one of a number of initiatives which aim to promote religious dialogue in Iraq. UK and Coalition Provisional Authority officials are in regular dialogue with religious leaders about a range of issues.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the organisation of regional caucuses in the British-controlled areas of Iraq.

Jack Straw: On 15 November 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council announced the process and timetable for the handover of power to a sovereign Iraqi Government and democratic elections. Since then the Coalition Provisional Authority has engaged in a process of consultation with the Governing Council and others on the best way to establish a transitional national administration before full democratic elections are held. The UN Secretary-General sent a technical team to Iraq this month to examine the options for elections. His team's report was due on 21 February. We look forward to receiving its recommendations, to which we will give serious consideration.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed deadline for transfer of power to a transitional Government in Iraq.

Jack Straw: On 15 November 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council announced the process and timetable for the hand-over of power in Iraq, including the establishment of an Iraqi transitional Government by 30 June 2004. We believe that deadline remains realistic and are working hard to achieve the hand-over by that date.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the mandate of a transitional Government in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: On 15 November 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) announced the process and timetable for the hand-over of power in Iraq. This includes the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), which will define the powers and principles of the Iraqi transitional administration. It is important that the TAL gains wide acceptance among Iraqis. It is currently being debated within the IGC. We will use our influence to help ensure that the TAL safeguards fundamental rights and contributes to the building of a free, democratic Iraq at peace with its neighbours.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning Israel's citizenship law.

Bill Rammell: The British Embassy in Tel Aviv last lobbied the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue of citizenship on 11 August 2003. Embassy staff raised concerns about the implementation of the revised citizenship law and the discriminatory effect it would have on certain sectors of the population, including many Palestinians. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Lord Hutton's Report

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconcile paragraph 14 of "A Further Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the Ninth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Session 2002–03" (Cm 6123) with Appendix 13 of the Hutton Report.

Chris Mullin: No reconciliation is called for. Lord Hutton's conclusion on the basis of the evidence was clear:
	"As the dossier was one to be presented to, and read by, Parliament and the public, and was not an intelligence assessment to be considered only by the Government, I do not consider that it was improper for Mr. Scarlett and the JIC to take into account suggestions as to drafting made by 10 Downing Street and to adopt those suggestions if they were consistent with the intelligence available to the JIC." (Paragraph 228 (7) of Lord Hutton's Report of the Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly CMG.)

MEPs and EU Officials

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other EU Foreign Ministers about (a) the harmonisation of salaries for MEPs and (b) ensuring greater transparency in the travel expenses of MEPs and EU officials.

Denis MacShane: Salaries and travel expenses for MEPs were most recently discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 27 January, where the Council failed to reach agreement on a revised Statute for MEPs. We nonetheless hope the European Parliament will implement its Expenses Regulation—which it can do with or without a Statute—so reforming its travel expenses system.
	Draft revised Staff Regulations for all EU officials are currently being discussed at working group level; they have not been discussed by the Council. We hope that they will be implemented on 1 May and will make the travel expenses system for EU officials simpler and more transparent.

Middle East

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to secure a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems as envisaged in UN Security Council Resolution 1284, in respect of (a) Israel and (b) Syria.

Chris Mullin: The Government have consistently supported Resolutions in the UN General Assembly calling for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
	We take every available opportunity to urge all states in the region to sign, ratify and abide by the obligations of all Treaties and Conventions covering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means for their delivery.

Mozambique

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) independence and (b) integrity of the Mozambican judicial system.

Chris Mullin: The independence of the Mozambican judiciary is enshrined in Section 1, Article 164 of the Mozambican constitution. This states that, "In the discharge of their functions, judges are independent and only owe obedience to the law". The Government of Mozambique is committed to ensuring an independent and fair judicial system.

Mozambique

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the list lodged with his Department of United Kingdom claimants for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975.

Chris Mullin: Under Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions: Data Protection Act in this case) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Government is prohibited from placing in the Library the list of UK claimants for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975 without the written permission of all those listed.

Mozambique

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in the last 12 months in which the issue of claims for compensation for confiscated property have been raised with the Mozambican authorities.

Chris Mullin: Our High Commission in Maputo last raised the issue of claims for compensation for confiscated property with the Mozambican authorities in July 2003. We will continue to raise the matter with the Mozambicans as and when appropriate opportunities present themselves.

Nigeria

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the acquisition of ballistic missiles and associated technology by Nigeria from North Korea.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1305W.

North Korea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of recent evidence from North Korea of continuing human rights abuses, with specific reference to use of political prisoners to test chemical weapons.

Chris Mullin: We fully share my hon. Friend's concerns about reports of continued and widespread human rights violations in North Korea, and we raise the issue regularly with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) authorities. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) raised the allegations concerning chemical weapons tested on North Korean prisoners with the DPRK Ambassador on 12 February and urged the DPRK government to allow independent monitors access to the country to verify or disprove such allegations, as called for in the Resolution adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2003. We will continue to encourage the DPRK government to co-operate fully with UN human rights mechanisms.

North Korea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of China on its policy of sending back North Korean refugees.

Chris Mullin: We regularly raise the issue of North Korean refugees with the Chinese, including at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. At the last round of the Dialogue, on 10/11 November 2003, we urged China to allow the UNHCR access to the border areas and to observe its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. In addition, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) raised the issue with the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui in December 2003.
	We will continue to encourage China's greater co-operation with the UNHCR on this issue.

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was.

Jack Straw: My Department took an average of four days to answer parliamentary questions for ordinary written answer in Session 2002–03, within the five working day Parliamentary guidelines.
	The greatest number of days taken to provide an ordinary written answer in Session 2002–03 is 102 working days, which includes the summer recess.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Chris Mullin: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Advertising vacant posts—Financial year to end March 2003 -- £
		
			 Publication Cost 
		
		
			 FCO London  
			  A1—Administrative assistants—June 2002, September 2002, October 2002, March 2003 
			 South London Press 19,348.80 
			 Metro and Evening Standard 91,544.00 
			 www.thisislondon.co.uk 144.00 
			 Total 111,036.80 
			   
			  A2—Executive Assistants—July 2002, October 2002, February 2003 
			 Evening Standard and Metro 15,722.40 
			 Daily Mail 35,713.44 
			 Ethnic Media Group 8,510.00 
			 The Voice 4,261.68 
			 Glasgow Herald 10,858.40 
			 Scotsman (including Evening News) 12,690.00 
			 Belfast Telegraph (including Sunday Life) 7,354.71 
			 Cardiff Western Mail 14,064.60 
			 Metro Manchester 2,352.16 
			 Glasgow Evening Times 2,856.80 
			 Edinburgh Evening News 3,816.80 
			 Metro Scotland 913.20 
			 Metro Birmingham 2,536.64 
			 Total 121,650.83 
			   
			  B3—Operational Entry—September 2002, January 2003 
			 Belfast Telegraph 4,832.97 
			 Cardiff Western Mail 9,615.50 
			 Ethnic Media Group 5,513.68 
			 Evening Standard and Metro 10,872.00 
			 Glasgow Herald 10,985.60 
			 Guardian 9,355.84 
			 The Scotsman 11,160.80 
			 The Voice 2,837.12 
			 Total 65,173.51 
			   
			 Overseas Security Managers—January 2003  
			 Police Review 3,816.24 
			 Pathfinder 3,550.12 
			 Total 7,366.36 
			   
			 C4—DS General—September 2002  
			 Guardian 3,920.40 
			 The Voice 1,317.40 
			 Asian Times 1,645.00 
			 Belfast Telegraph 2,055.16 
			 Glasgow Herald 4,342.00 
			 Scotsman 5,281.00 
			 Cardiff Western Mail 3,347.90 
			 Total 21,908.86 
			   
			 C4—DS Economists—September 2002, January 2003  
			 Guardian 6,480.00 
			 Totaljobs.com 275.00 
			 The Voice 1,317.40 
			 Asian Times 1,645.00 
			 Belfast Telegraph 4,680.32 
			 Glasgow Herald 9,554.00 
			 Scotsman 10,706.00 
			 Economist 17,575.00 
			 Cardiff Western Mail 6,469.40 
			 Sunday Times Website 340.00 
			 Ethnic Media Group 2,908.00 
			 Total 61,950.12 
			   
			 Specialist Recruitment  
			 Accountancy Age 3,000.00 
			 Asian Times Group 1,506.00 
			 Bedfordshire Times 950.00 
			 Ethnic Media Group 19,764.00 
			 Evening Standard 1,296.00 
			 Financial Times 5,250.00 
			 Guardian 33,612.00 
			 Luton and Dunstable Herald 1,577.00 
			 Milton Keynes Chronicle 834.50 
			 Milton Keynes Citizen 3,362.70 
			 New Scientist 10,495.00 
			 Northampton Chronicle 2,067.00 
			 Northampton Herald and Sport 1,223.00 
			 Northants Curon and Echo 1,587.00 
			 Sunday Times 7,840.00 
			 The Times 1,519.00 
			 THES 3,165.00 
			 www.jobs.ac.uk 470.00 
			 Total 99,518.20 
			   
			 FCO Hanslope Park  
			 C4—Contract Managers—April 2002  
			 Personnel Publications 4,465.00 
			 Total 4,465.00 
			 C4—Electrical Technician Officer—April 2002  
			 McMillan Scott 705.00 
			 Premier Newspapers 4,450.76 
			 Institution of Electrical Engineers 4,624.80 
			 Total 9,780.56 
			   
			 D7—Head of Technical Security—May 2002  
			 Premier Newspapers 4,450.76 
			 Express Newspapers 9,987.50 
			 Total 14,438.26 
			   
			 C4—Investigating Officer—September 2002  
			 Daily Mail 4,758.75 
			 Jane's Information Group 3,877.50 
			 Total 8,636.25 
			   
			 A1— Mail Room Assistants—November 2002  
			 Evening Standard 1,057.50 
			 Total 1,057.50 
			   
			 B3—Assistant Government Butler—March 2003  
			 Restaurant Magazine 1,938.75 
			 Evening Standard 2,350.00 
			 Caterer and Hotel Keeper 1,854.16 
			 Total 6,142.91 
		
	
	
		General and diversity advertising—Financial year to end March 2003
		
			 Publication Cost 
		
		
			  
			 Hobsons Career Guide for Women 2003  
			 Hobsons Career Guide for Students with Disabilities 2003  
			 Hobsons Career Guide for Ethnic Minorities 2003 82,500.00  
			 Hobsons Diversity Handbook  
			 www.hobsons.com microsite  
			 Newsletters for Ethnic Minority students  
			 KAL—Careers Advice for Ethnic Minority Graduates  
			 Number Ten—Careers Advice for Women Graduates  
			 Arberry Profile—Careers Advice for Disabled Graduates 81,114.00  
			 Recruitment Brochures  
			 Spectrum—Careers Advice for Ethnic Minority 16 to 19-year-olds  
			 Headstart 3,850.00 
			 Doctor Job's Little Black Book 4,450.00  
			 www.doctorjob.com employer profile  
			 National Guide to Black History Month 3,100.00 
			 Futures/Network News 5,600.00 
			 Employment Opportunities website and newsletter 2,000.00 
			 Black and Asian Graduate website 495.00 
			 Total 183,109.00 
		
	
	Total cost of advertising April 2002 to March 2003: £716,234.16.
	We advertise widely for jobs in the Diplomatic Service and specialist positions, as well as general careers advertisements placed in diversity publications and websites. The placement of adverts is reviewed regularly according to the nature of the position, cost and response from previous advertisements. The above breakdown for the years 2000–02 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Serbia and Montenegro

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has made to EU partners on (a) the situation in Serbia and (b) Serbian co-operation with international institutions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the co-operation of the Serbian Government with (a) UN authorities and (b) the War Crimes Tribunal;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of UN reports that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are in Belgrade; and what representations he has made to the Serbian authorities on this matter.

Denis MacShane: We and our European Union partners regularly discuss the situation in Serbia and the rest of the Balkans region. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 January noted the results of the recent Serbian parliamentary elections of 28 December 2003. It urged all democratic parties to help form a government committed to reform and further integration with the European Union.
	While the relationship between Belgrade and the United Nations Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has been difficult, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Co-ordination Centre for Kosovo and Metohija, Nebojsa Covic, has recently made helpful statements on the Direct Dialogue Working Groups. These talks will cover areas such as environmental issues, energy and missing persons. This is a positive step towards building a stable future for Kosovo.
	The UK fully supports the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which helps foster reconciliation and stability in the region. Serbia and Montenegro (SaM) made some progress in early 2003, but co-operation has since stalled. We take every opportunity to remind Belgrade that in order to realise her Euro-Atlantic aspirations, SaM must fulfil the international obligation of full and complete co-operation with the ICTY.
	We believe that SaM could do more to co-operate with the ICTY, particularly by assisting in the arrest and transfer of Bosnian Serb leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Through both bilateral and EU initiatives, we continue to put pressure on the SaM Government to transfer all remaining ICTY indictees, including Mladic and Karadzic, and to allow ICTY full access to documents and witnesses.

Somali National Reconciliation Conference

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who attended the Somali National Reconciliation Conference at the Safari Park Hotel outside Nairobi.

Chris Mullin: The main Somali political and faction leaders attended these consultations, although leaders from Somaliland did not. A UK observer was also present.

Somali National Reconciliation Conference

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was to the UK Government of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference held at the Safari Park Hotel outside Nairobi.

Chris Mullin: The UK Government made a voluntary contribution of US$100,000 to support these consultations.

Terrorism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 415W, on terrorism (political parties), what means have been used to persuade Hizbollah to abandon all terrorist activity.

Bill Rammell: Hizbollah's terrorist wing, the External Security Organisation, is proscribed in the UK. We maintain contact with the political wing of the organisation, on which we press the pursuit of legitimate political engagement and the abandonment of terrorist activity. We have also urged Lebanon, Iran and Syria to exercise any influence they have with Hizbollah in a positive manner.

Train Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Jack Straw: 16 January 2004.

Tristan da Cunha

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between his Department and the local council on Tristan da Cunha in respect of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Chris Mullin: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs takes the policy lead on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) related matters for the UK. The UK's ratification of CITES applies to Tristan da Cunha. Under the latter's current legislation, which is under review, the functions of the CITES Management Authority are carried out by the Administrator, who is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official. The Island Council would not be involved.

Turkey

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the consent of the Turkish Government for British officials to monitor the Turkish local elections on 28 March.

Denis MacShane: No. The British Embassy in Ankara will follow the local elections in Turkey closely. This will include consultations with political parties, non-governmental organisations and electoral authorities.

Turkey

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the consent of the Turkish Government for British officials to monitor the Kurdish New Year Newroz celebrations on 21 March.

Denis MacShane: No. Non-governmental organisations will observe the Newroz celebrations and the British Embassy in Ankara, which follows developments in Turkey closely, is in regular contact with them.

Ukraine

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Ukraine on the importance of free and fair elections there; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear to Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko in January that Ukraine's aspirations towards membership of the EU and NATO were dependent on its democratic progress. The extent to which the 2004 presidential elections are free and fair will be a test of Ukraine's readiness for closer relationships with the EU and NATO.

United Nations Compensation Commission

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support (a) new approvals and (b) new payments of claims from the United Nations Compensation Commission.

Chris Mullin: As a permanent member of the United Nations Compensation Commission's (UNCC) Governing Council, the UK actively supports the work of the UNCC, including any Governing Council decisions relating to new approvals and new payments.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the scope of international monitoring of weapons of mass destruction proliferation, with particular reference to biological and chemical weapons.

Denis MacShane: The threat of proliferation of WMD has, in recent years been successfully limited by international arms control and effective multilateral treaties including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
	The NPT is the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime, with 188 States Parties. It forbids acquisition or possession of nuclear weapons, except by the five acknowledged nuclear weapons States, who are required to pursue negotiations on nuclear disarmament. The NPT requires non-nuclear weapons Parties to enter into safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to verify compliance. The IAEA's safeguards system is being strengthened by the introduction of an Additional Protocol expanding the IAEA's access. The UK is working with EU partners to see this Additional Protocol accepted as an international norm.
	The CTBT provides for a global system of monitoring stations, using four complementary technologies, to record data necessary to verify compliance. Its aim is to achieve a total ban of explosive testing of nuclear weapons.
	The CWC bans the production, acquisition and retention of chemical weapons and requires CW possessors to destroy, under supervision, CW stockpiles and production facilities. CWC implementation is verified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) through on-site monitoring of CW destruction activity, and regular inspection of relevant industrial facilities. The CWC also provides for any Party with a concern about another's compliance to seek a challenge inspection. The CWC has 159 Parties, most recently including Libya's welcome accession.
	The BWC has 151 Parties. The Fifth Review Conference of the BWC agreed in November 2002 on a three-year programme of work leading up to the Sixth Review Conference in 2006. This process is designed to strengthen the Convention, which currently has no ability to verify compliance. Assistance with the establishment of national legislation and regulation was provided to two States Parties following the annual Meeting of States Parties in 2003. The UK actively encourages universality of the Convention and urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Convention.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the decision of the UN to extend the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until 30 April; and what impact he expects this to have on Morocco.

Bill Rammell: We have consistently supported the efforts of the UN Secretary General and James Baker III, his Personal Envoy, to find a solution to the dispute over Western Sahara. We supported UN Security Council Resolution 1523, which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April, allowing Morocco the opportunity to consult further with Mr. Baker on the final Moroccan response to the latest UN Proposals, known as the Peace Plan. We continue to urge Morocco to engage constructively with Mr. Baker.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation with regard to the imprisonment of Western Sahara Polisario activists in Morocco.

Bill Rammell: Ministers and officials regularly call upon the parties to the Western Sahara dispute to take action on human rights issues and we also raise specific cases. For example, my officials raised with the Moroccan authorities the cases of some of the 12 Saharawi activists who were subsequently released by the Moroccan authorities on 7 January 2004. We also raise with the Polisario and Algerian authorities the over 600 Moroccan prisoners of war who continue to be held by the Polisario, many on Algerian territory. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, taking action with the appropriate authorities where necessary.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which EU General Affairs Council meetings in the last six months he has called for the toughening of EU sanctions against the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe; and what specific measures he called for.

Jack Straw: We have been consistent advocates of tough EU sanctions against Mugabe. The present measures consist of an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, and an assets freeze and travel ban on leading members of the regime. I have raised the matter with relevant EU Foreign Minister colleagues on a number of occasions and so have officials on my behalf with their counterparts. The result is that with our strong support, these measures were extended on 19 February for a further year.
	We also sought and secured an increase in the number of senior ZANU-PF figures subject to the travel ban and assets freeze, from 79 to 95. This includes several additional individuals who bear particular responsibility for the abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe.
	The 23 February General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), which I attended, issued a strong statement deploring the failure of the government of Zimbabwe to address the EU's concerns over the deteriorating situation in the country. The GAERC also made clear the EU's intent to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, on the basis of need.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture (Africa)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of (a) employment, (b) exports and (c) gross national income in (a) Nigeria, (b) Ghana, (c) Tanzania and (d) Kenya is accounted for by agriculture.

Hilary Benn: Accurate data on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa are not always available. For example, some smallholder farmers may not be taken into account in those agricultural censuses and surveys that focus on 'formal' agriculture. DFID does not produce its own data—the following have been collated from other sources which we believe to be among the best available:
	
		
			  2001 labour force employed in agriculture(12) (percentage) 2001 agricultural exports as percentage of total(13) 2001 agricultural production as percentage GDP(14) 
		
		
			 Nigeria 32 3 35 
			 Ghana 57 22 36 
			 Tanzania 80 28 45 
			 Kenya 75 39 19 
		
	
	(12) World Resources Institute (2001) sourced from FAOstat.
	(13) World Bank (2003) African Development Indicators 2003.
	(14) World Bank (2003) World Development Indicators 2003.

Agriculture (Africa)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of (a) employment, (b) exports and (c) gross national income in (i) Mozambique, (ii) Malawi and (iii) Lesotho is accounted for by agriculture.

Hilary Benn: The SADC 2000 Human Development Report suggests that in 1990 the percentage of the labour force deriving its primary source of income from agriculture was 87 per cent. in Malawi, 83 per cent. in Mozambique and 40 per cent. in Lesotho (where only 10 per cent. of the land area is suitable for cultivation). These figures are broadly in line with more recent assessments in the three countries. In all three countries, a higher percentage of households derive at least some of their livelihood from farming.
	Agriculture contributes 93 per cent. of export earnings in Malawi, 6 per cent. in Mozambique and 1 per cent. in Lesotho.
	Agriculture represents 33 per cent. of GDP in both Malawi and Mozambique, and 18 per cent. in Lesotho.

Palestine

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the allegations that foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority from the EU has been diverted to the Al-Aqsa brigade.

Hilary Benn: The European Union takes such allegations extremely seriously, and has responded by in investigating the matter. The Commission, on the basis of the material it has examined, has not found any evidence of European funds being used for terrorism or other purposes other than those agreed with the Palestinian Authority. A comprehensive report on the matter, by the EU's Anti Fraud Office, is due to be published shortly.

Bush Meat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the inter-departmental ministerial group on biodiversity will discuss bushmeat.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The first meeting of this group is likely to take place soon after my return from the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity later this month. Bushmeat is an issue that the Group will want to consider, but all arrangements for this meeting, including the agenda, still have to be finalised.

Central America

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to deal with Central American garment factories that are found not to comply with the relevant codes of conduct.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: If a Central American garment factory is found not to comply with codes of conduct enshrined in national legislation, the relevant government institution is responsible for taking remedial actions, as laid out within the legislation. If, however, a garment factory is found not to comply with the corporate codes of conduct specified by the retailers with which the garment factory has a contract, remedial actions are identified by the independent monitor by the retailers to ensure compliance. If these actions are not taken, the factory is liable to be fined by the retailers, or in serious breaches, to losing the contract. The threat of losing a contract is a powerful incentive for a factory to implement these actions.

Chad-Cameroon Pipeline

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  when independent external audits of the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project will be undertaken;
	(2)  when the mandatory fiscal accountability and transparency measures for the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project will be in place;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project with statutory international requirements for safety and environmental protection;
	(4)  when the area special oil spill response plan for the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project (a) was due to be in place and (b) is expected to be in place.

Hilary Benn: DFID is not directly involved in funding or implementing this World Bank project. DFID therefore does not have first-hand information on detailed implementation issues concerning external auditing, fiscal accountability, environmental and safety compliance or oil spill response plans.
	However, DFID is confident that the World Bank's systems for the monitoring and implementation of this project, and for the investigation of any warranted complaints are appropriate.
	Since the project was approved in June 2000, exceptional resources have been allocated by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, to monitor and support the project's implementation against Internationally agreed standards. This includes the establishment of the Independent Inspection Panel (IIP) and the External Compliance Monitoring Group (ECMG).
	In relation to the quality of auditing and fiscal accountability, the World Bank policy identifies two sets of appropriate auditing standards: the International Standards on Auditing published by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Auditing Standards published by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions. Project arrangements provide for regular audits of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline projects accounts, plus independent opinions from the International Advisory Group (IAG) and the External Compliance and Monitoring Group (ECMG), which carries out regular independent supervisions of the technical and environmental aspects of the project, and from the Inspection Panel which may investigate complaints from people who believe they have been negatively affected by a World Bank project.
	The Chad-Cameroon pipeline is subject to a number of monitoring and supervision controls to ensure quality control, application of environmental regulations, design and implementation adhere to International rules and regulations. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has strict requirements and specifications, and compliance with these by all parties is spelled out in legally binding agreements. Strong remedies are provided in legal agreements with all parties in case they fail to comply with this obligation. The EMP represents an extensive analysis of the potential environmental and social impacts of the project.
	The World Bank are being advised by the ECMG in monitoring the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan, and by an International Advisory Group on broader implementation issues, including those that need to be addressed to achieve the project's developmental objectives. Both the ECMG and IAG make regular site visits. These third party reviews supplement the Bank's own monitoring and supervision of the project which includes site visits, internal reporting and continual discussions with the project sponsors.
	The above measures are additional to on-going monitoring by the Consortium and by the Governments of Chad and Cameroon. The Consortium provides quarterly reports which are publicly available.
	DFID's interest is as a member of the Executive Board of the World Bank. We do and will continue to take our role on the Executive Board seriously, ensuring that issues identified by the Independent Inspection Panel and External Compliance Monitoring Group are raised, monitored and rectified.
	The investigation reports mentioned above are publicly available and can be found on http://www. worldbank.org/afr/ccproj/index.htm.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Details of the numbers of current civil servants in DFID (there are no agencies), broken down by grade, are contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Grade (highest first) Staff numbers 
		
		
			 Senior Civil Service 71 
			 A1 (Level 6) 178 
			 A2 (Level 7) 368 
			 A3 (Senior Executive Officer) level 139 
			 B1 (Higher Executive Officer) level 297 
			 B2 (Executive Officer) level 295 
			 C1 (Administrative Officer) level 306 
			 C2 (Administrative Assistant) level 90 
			 Total 1,744 
		
	
	There were 1,177 Civil Servants in DFID, in 1997. A breakdown of that figure by grade, is not available.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the estimated annual amount of investment that the Government will make through CDC when it becomes a Government-owned investment company.

Hilary Benn: The Commonwealth Development Corporation Act of 1999 transformed CDC into a Government-owned investment company that deploys some £1.1 billion of public capital for investment. This capital was injected into CDC by the Government over several decades up to the mid-1990s. We have no current plans to invest additional funds in CDC.
	All new investments made by CDC in the future will be funded from the proceeds of realisation of existing investments. CDC's business plan for the next few years estimates that between £200 million and £300 million will be invested each year into the new funds to be managed by Actis. The intention is that, in the medium term, third party investors will be attracted to commit capital to these funds alongside CDC.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the environmental sustainability requirements of Actis and the Commonwealth Development Corporation will be following the reorganisation announced in his Written Statement of 8 January.

Hilary Benn: Since 1999, CDC has been required to follow a set of business principles that require compliance with best practice, both at fund and investee company level. These principles include environmental standards, where, as a minimum, World Bank rules must be applied, or at least met within an agreed timeframe.
	The other business principles cover the areas of personal and corporate integrity, social issues such as child or forced labour or discriminatory practices, health and safety, transparency and legal and fiscal compliance.
	The reorganisation does not affect these principles. They will in future apply to both Actis and CDC.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) objectives and (b) return requirements will be required for investment of capital provided to an Actis-managed fund by the CDC following the reorganisation announced in his Written Statement of 8 January.

Hilary Benn: As set out in my Written Statement of 8 January, Official Report, column 15WS, CDC's objective is to maximise the creation and long-term growth of viable businesses in poorer developing countries by making responsible investments and mobilising private capital alongside public funds. This objective will remain unchanged under the reorganisation proposals and will apply to all CDC capital invested in any Actis-managed fund.
	The rates of return of the different Actis funds will vary according to the region or sector at which a particular fund is targeted; for example, the rate of return for the Africa fund will differ from that for the Power fund. Target rates of return will be set according to the requirements of businesses in the region or sector in question and according to the requirements of potential co-investors in the fund.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether ventures managed by Actis that are fully commercial will be eligible for investment capital from the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

Hilary Benn: Actis will be a fully commercial organisation and all ventures that it manages will be on fully commercial terms. CDC will only invest its capital in businesses that offer the prospect, with the help of the investment offered by CDC, of generating returns acceptable to CDC and co-investors. CDC's mission is to develop the private sector in the poorer developing countries. It does not plan to make available any form of concessional financing

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the (a) salaries and (b) bonuses awarded to each board member and member of senior management of the Commonwealth Development Corporation for each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The salaries, bonuses and/or fees paid to the executive and non-executive directors of Commonwealth Development Corporation each year are published in the directors' remuneration report included in CDC's Annual Report. For the period 1997 to 2002, they were as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Salary/fee Bonus 
		
		
			 2002   
			 Non-Executive Directors   
			 Lord Cairns (Chair) 48,000  
			 Jayne Almond (Deputy Chair) 22,432  
			 Jonathan Kydd 16,658  
			 Lalith de Mel 17,000  
			 Pen Kent (to 1 December 2001) 10,250  
			 Russel Seal (to 2 May 2001) 4,375  
			 Peter Smitham (from 15 March 2001) 17,000  
			 Tim Parker (from I December 2001) 17,000  
			 Executive Directors   
			 Alan Gillespie (CEO to 30 November 2002) 143,055 90,000 
			 Paul Fletcher (from 17 January 2001) 141,225 90,000 
			 Richard Laing 139,425 75,000 
			 Andrew Reicher (from 17 January 2001) 137,000 90,000 
			 Nicholas Selbie (from 17 January 2001) 147,900 67,500 
			
			 2001   
			 Non-Executive Directors   
			 Lord Cairns (Chair) 37,500  
			 Jayne Almond (Deputy Chair) 16,333  
			 Jonathan Kydd 10,833  
			 Lalith de Mel (from 13 April 2000) 10,916  
			 Pen Kent (to 1 December 2001) 10,250  
			 Russel Seal (to 2 May 2001) 4,375  
			 Peter Smitham (from l5 March 2001) 8,637  
			 Tim Parker (from I December 2001) 1,416  
			 Executive Directors   
			 Alan Gillespie (CEO) 170,000 43,350 
			 Richard Laing (from 24 January 2000) 135,000 35,000 
			 Paul Fletcher (from 17 January 2001) 128,769 42,300 
			 Andrew Reicher (from 17 January 2001) 128,769 32,300 
			 Nicholas Selbie (from 17 January 2001) 138,308 32,100 
			
			 2000   
			 Non-Executive Directors   
			 Lord Cairns (Chair) 32,250  
			 Jayne Almond (Deputy Chair) 13,146  
			 Pen Kent 9,000  
			 Jonathan Kydd 8,250  
			 Russel Seal 10,260  
			 Lalith de Mel (from 13 April 2000) 5,909  
			 Executive Directors   
			 Alan Gillespie (CEO) 160,000 57,600 
			 Richard Laing (from 24 January 2000) 114,583 45,000 
			 1999   
			  Members of the Corporation (to 7 December 1999) and Non-Executive Directors of CDC Group plc (from 8 December 1999) 
			 Lord Cairns (Chair) 30,813  
			 Jayne Almond (Deputy Chair) 11,625  
			 Pen Kent 9,000  
			 Jonathan Kydd 8,250  
			 Russel Seal 8,953  
			 Chief Executive Officer (to 7 December 1999)   
			 Roy Reynolds 148,750 35,000 
			 Executive Director of CDC Group plc   
			 Alan Gillespie (CEO from 8 December 1999) 13,333  
			  Members of the Corporation (to 7 December 1999) 
			 Carolyn Hayman 7,728  
			 Roger Murray 7,728  
			 David Pearce 7,728  
			 Hari Shankar Singhania (to June 1999) 3,750  
			
			 1998   
			 Chairman (Lord Cairns) 29,000  
			 Other Members of the Corporation (Board) 68,000  
			 CEO (Roy Reynolds) (15)168,189  
			 Executive Management Committee members 819,429  
			
			 1997   
			 Chairman (Lord Cairns) 27,000  
			 Other Members of the Corporation (Board) 68,000  
			 CEO (Roy Reynolds) (15)153,762  
			 Executive Management Committee members 747,071  
		
	
	(15) Inclusive of bonus.
	Notes:
	1. The remuneration committee of the board (made up of the independent directors) is responsible for recommending the total remuneration of executive directors including any bonuses. Bonuses reflect individual performances in the context of the overall performance of CDC including performance against the investment policy.
	2. Prior to transformation into CDC Group PLC in 1999, remuneration data for the former Commonwealth Development Corporation was not published in full detail.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of Commonwealth Development Corporation investment capital was directed to agriculture ventures for each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The proportion by year of CDC's new and total investments in the agricultural sector were as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of new investment into agricultural sector Percentage of total portfolio in agricultural sector 
		
		
			 1998 23 25 
			 1999 23 18.5 
			 2000 20 17 
			 2001 10.2 10.2 
			 2002 11.3 11.3 
			 2003 5.4 10.9 
		
	
	I regret that the figures for 1997 are not readily available.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of Commonwealth Development Corporation investment capital was directed to the poorest quartile of Commonwealth countries in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The mandate of the former Commonwealth Development Corporation was widened to include all developing countries in 1969. After transformation into CDC in 1999, we gave it a target of making at least 70 per cent. of its new investments in the poorer developing countries (basically those with a GNI per capita of less than US$1,750).
	The poorest quartile of Commonwealth countries all fall within this grouping. For the years 1997 to 2001 (which is the latest year for which data are available) these countries were Bangladesh, Cameroon (1997 only), Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho (1998 to 2001 only), Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
	The proportion of CDC's new investment that were made in these countries is as follows:
	1997—32 per cent.
	1998—47 per cent.
	1999—25 per cent.
	2000—26 per cent.
	2001—44 per cent.
	2002—24 per cent.
	2003—61 per cent.
	Note: 2002 and 2003 figures are based on the countries in the poorest quartile in 2001.

CDC

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the measures that will be in place to ensure that Actis does not obtain capital from the CDC that could be obtained through private investors.

Hilary Benn: Under a five-year contract, CDC will place 95 per cent. of its investment capital into the funds that Actis will launch and manage. Actis will be encouraged to raise as much further capital from private and other third party investors as possible for investment in the poorer developing countries. Maximising the mobilisation of third party capital is the key feature of the reorganisation proposals.
	CDC's investment policy (set by DFID) obliges it to concentrate its investment in the poorer developing countries where the private sector is generally reluctant to invest. We believe that in practice there is a wide gap between the demand for investment capital in the poorer countries and the amount actually available to them. It is our aim that CDC will help bridge this gap.
	We are aware that CDC's investments must not crowd out or otherwise discourage private investors already active in developing countries. This .is the opposite of its purpose and we will expect the Board of CDC to be particularly vigilant about this issue.

Conflict Resolution

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds his Department has committed to conflict resolution in 2003–04; and what percentage of the Department's budget this represents.

Hilary Benn: In 2003–04, it was forecast that £22 million would be allocated to DFID for conflict prevention work through the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP) and £16 million through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP). £4.4 million was committed to Conflict Policy and Projects within DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department.
	DFID's total programme budget for financial year 2003–04 is £3,611 million. Therefore, committed and specific conflict related spending is equivalent to 1.2 per cent. of DFID's total programme budget. However, this does not incorporate the full extent of DFID's spending on conflict issues in this financial year.
	DFID's total budget for its bilateral country and regional programmes is £1,429 million. A significant proportion of this budget is committed to countries affected by conflict and many of DFID's poverty reduction programmes in these countries will have a positive impact on conflict. However, further breakdown by sector is not possible until all actual programmes spending for 2003–04 has been recorded.
	These spending commitment figures are available in the 2003 DFID Departmental Report, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Since its establishment in 1997 as the successor to the Overseas Development Administration, this Department has spent the following amounts on creating a new logo and departmental identity:
	(a) Consultancy fees—£6,000 plus licensing typeface—£5,000 and producing guidelines for contractors on logo/identity—£5,600.
	(b) All major items of stationery requiring the new logo were held in electronic form so costs for design and new stock were negligible.
	(c) There were no significant Website re-design costs.
	(d) Publications featuring the old logo continued in use until stocks were exhausted or until the publication became obsolete. Write off costs were therefore negligible.

Departmental Expenditure

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's funding was paid to (a) governments and (b) non-governmental organisations in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: In recent years, around 7 per cent. of DFID's programme has been channelled through non-governmental organisations and some 23 per cent. directly through governments. The remainder also supports governments and NGOs indirectly, but the initial cash payment is made to multilateral organisations (45 per cent.) or companies and research institutes for development programmes that they manage or goods and services provided by them (25 per cent.).

Direct Budget Support

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what indicators he intends to use to assess whether direct budget support is effective.

Hilary Benn: DFID continuously monitors the effectiveness in reducing poverty, and the value for money, of its direct budget support. Assessing effectiveness means both monitoring the fiduciary risks we take as we use budget support, and also evaluating budget support in terms of its actual effects on poor people.
	DFID monitors fiduciary risk in order to have a basic indication of whether our budget support is being used effectively. Indicators for monitoring fiduciary risk include:
	whether the objectives for which funds were allocated have been achieved;
	whether reporting is accurate and timely;
	whether actual expenditure matches the agreed budget allocations;
	whether value for money and transparency have been demonstrated in procurement;
	what progress has been made towards improving financial management.
	In addition to this, a joint donor evaluation of general budget support is under way, which will provide a comprehensive assessment of the effects of budget support on developing countries and their people. DFID has the lead in this process which is co-funded by 15 other donors, through the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
	The evaluation's indicators of effectiveness will include:
	whether there are macroeconomic benefits from budget support (for example: recession avoided, inflation controlled);
	whether the recipient Government has greater control over externally-funded activities and resources;
	whether public expenditure is made more efficient;
	whether public administration is made more effective (due to focus on national budget rather than off-budget financing);
	whether democratic accountability is enhanced.
	Ultimately the evaluation will assess whether budget support reduces poverty and reduces social exclusion. This assessment will be made using developing countries' own monitoring systems.
	Full details of the indicators used by the evaluation will be published in April in the document "Joint Evaluation of GBS: Evaluation Framework". A copy of this document will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Ethiopia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Ethiopia about human rights in the country.

Hilary Benn: During my recent visit to Ethiopia I raised the issue of human rights with Prime Minister Meles and Members of his Government about how respect for human rights—as enshrined in Ethiopia's own Constitution—can be improved. The Prime Minister told me of his commitment to improving human rights as enshrined in the constitution and it will be important for the people to see this happen. He nevertheless accepted that there are problems with human rights in Ethiopia. He gave an undertaking to build the capacity of the judiciary and security sectors to help in the securing and protection of constitutional rights for all. Our office in Ethiopia also frequently discusses such issues with the Government.
	Representations concerning human rights form part of a wider ongoing dialogue with the Government of Ethiopia. This dialogue centres on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)—signed between DFID and the Government of Ethiopia in 2003—that sets out undertakings by each side. The improvement of human rights is one such undertaking given by the Government of Ethiopia.
	We have also ensured that indicators and targets relating to human rights will be linked to our direct budget support in Ethiopia. This will allow us to track the direction of change and inform decisions on future support.

Iraq

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of Thursday 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 115W, on Iraq, whether the Treasury provided an additional £60 million to his Department to help meet the Madrid pledge.

Hilary Benn: The £60 million set aside by the Chancellor from the Treasury Reserve to meet additional needs in Iraq was included in the United Kingdom's Madrid pledge of £544 million for the three years from April 2003, which covers actual and planned expenditure on reconstruction by DFID, the MOD and the FCO.
	To date, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been allocated £35.7 million of the £60 million to meet the costs of civilian staff seconded to the Coalition Provisional Authority and to the office of the UK's Special Representative to Iraq, including the costs of providing suitably secure accommodation and transport. These staff are engaged in rebuilding Iraqi government capacity and facilitating progress towards a stable, effective and representative Iraqi government. DFID has been allocated £6.5 million for reconstruction work in southern Iraq and funding for NGOs. The remainder has yet to be allocated.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payments have been made by his Department into the Development Fund for Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has made no payments into the Development Fund for Iraq. The Fund was established to hold Iraq's own revenues, principally from oil sales.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list direct payments from his Department to the Coalition Provisional Authority; what the payments were for in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has made no direct payments to the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Payments for DFID support to the CPA are made to individuals undertaking secondments and to companies providing consultancy, recruitment, security, equipment supply and other services.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Hilary Benn: I regularly travel to Brussels by Eurostar. The last time was 3 February. When undertaking ministerial duties in the UK, depending on time constraints, I travel by train.
	All my ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in "Travel by Ministers".

Nigeria

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the implications for UK aid assistance to Nigeria are of the Nigerian Government's attempts to procure ballistic missiles and associated weapons technology; and what representations he has made to Nigerian representatives on the issue.

Hilary Benn: Speculation that Nigeria has attempted to procure military equipment from North Korea has not been substantiated and Nigerian Government spokesmen claim to have been misreported. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has nonetheless made representations to the Nigerian authorities about Britain's policy and position. DFID's criterion for allocating development assistance is where we can make the greatest impact on reducing poverty—as expressed by the UN Millennium Development Goals. The Nigerian Government has embarked on an ambitious programme of reform that provides the best opportunity for substantial and lasting poverty reduction in a generation. DFID is committed to supporting this.

Nigeria

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the situation in Plateau State, Nigeria; and what action the Government are taking to support peace and conflict resolution initiatives there.

Hilary Benn: Violent outbreaks throughout Nigeria are a matter of great concern to the Nigerian Government. The roots of conflicts can be hard to establish: groups tend to divide on religious and ethnic grounds but the underlying causes are often more complex.
	DFID, the FCO and the MOD have developed a joint conflict prevention strategy for Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigerian Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. As part of this strategy, the British Government are supporting the International Centre for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, who has been supporting reconciliation and conflict transformation work in Plateau State, at the invitation of the Governor. The British High Commission maintains close contact with the Nigerian authorities, and regularly visits afflicted areas.

Opium Production (Afghanistan)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated volume of opium production in Afghanistan is for the current year; and what the estimated volume was in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. The UNODC is in the process of preparing the 2004 report on behalf of the Afghan government, which will be published in the autumn. According to the UNODC annual survey, the estimated volume of opium production and cultivation in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Hectares Tonnes 
		
		
			 1999 91,000 4,600 
			 2000 82,000 3,300 
			 2001 8,000 185 
			 2002 74,000 3,400 
			 2003 80,000 3,600 
		
	
	The low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation; the ban did not however address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and was enforced with a mix of threat and bribery.

Recovery Infrastructure Group

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development into which bank account the assistance for the Recovery Infrastructure Group is paid; who controls the account; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Recovery and Infrastructure Group project rehabilitates and refurbishes Government and other public buildings. Project funds are paid into an account managed by Crown Agents Financial Services Ltd. Halcrow Group Ltd. design and supervise the implementation of projects by local firms. Progress is reviewed by DFID staff.

Serbia and Montenegro

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of Serbian co-operation with (a) international institutions and (b) the War Crimes Tribunal on development assistance to Serbia; and what representations he has made to (i) EU partners and (ii) the Serbian government about this.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: For the three-year period to the end of 2003, positive dialogue between Serbia and the International Community, including the IMF, World Bank, and European Commission led to a programme of reform backed up by substantial assistance programmes from key donors. In 2003, The European Commission allocated some £160 million (UK share of which was about £30 million) and the World Bank had committed nearly £210 million of a three-year allocation of £286 million approved in 2001.
	Although Serbia and Montenegro (SaM) made some progress in co-operating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in early 2003, co-operation has since stalled. We and our partners in the International Community take every opportunity to remind Belgrade that in order to realise her Euro-Atlantic aspirations, SaM must fulfil the international obligation of full and complete co-operation with the ICTY. Through both bilateral and EU initiatives, we continue to put pressure on SaM to arrest and transfer all remaining ICTY indictees, including Serb leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic and to allow ICTY full access to documents and witnesses.
	We and our European Partners regularly discuss the situation in Serbia. It is unclear how Serbia's relations with international institutions and ICTY will now develop since Serbia has yet to form a government following last December's parliamentary elections. We will continue to liaise closely with EU and other International Community partners, to identify the most effective ways to support and promote both reform and co-operation with ICTY.

Small Arms Global Pool

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Small Arms Global Pool.

Hilary Benn: The Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools (GCPP) as a whole are currently undergoing a full and independent evaluation after the first three years of operation. A report will be published shortly.
	The GCPP's Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy is that it has achieved a number of notable outcomes in a short period of time.
	The strategy has helped to ensure that recent UN and regional agreements could be implemented in many arms-affected regions. We have supported practical measures to combat the supply, demand and availability of weapons at local, national and regional levels in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe; notably the establishment in Tanzania of the first ever government-endorsed national action plan, which tackles in a comprehensive way the problem of small arms proliferation. New legislation in Brazil banning the carrying of weapons by civilians is another initiative supported by the strategy that has resulted in lasting change.
	However, more needs to be done to raise awareness and to integrate small arms control and reduction measure into wider defence relations, foreign policy, conflict, security and development programmes. A new SALW strategy (2004–07) is currently being developed and this will seek to address this.

Small Arms Global Pool

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the weapons destroyed so far as a result of the Small Arms Global Pool, broken down by type.

Hilary Benn: A key element of the UK Government's Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy is to reduce the availability of SALW through support for weapons stockpile management, collection and destruction programmes.
	Within the framework of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (2001), the UK supports a number of governments including those of developing countries to dispose of small arms stocks, preferably by destruction, that are surplus to national requirements.
	The UK is supporting the development of five-year National Action Plans in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Namibia. These plans will provide a comprehensive approach to weapons controls in these countries and include elements for the disarmament, management and destruction of weapons.
	Since 2001, the GCPP-funded Small Arms and Demobilisation Unit of UNDP have supported the destruction of over 360,000 weapons and in excess of 24 million items of ammunition (i.e. small arms cartridges) and 1,090 tonnes of ammunition as part of their global weapons collection management and destruction programme.
	The UK has also funded a Brazilian NGO, Viva Rio, which has, as part of its awareness raising campaign, worked with the police and military in organising ceremonial public destructions of firearms. In excess of 114,000 have been destroyed since UK support for the project started in 2001. Destruction of weapons is done in partnership with the Rio State Government.
	The UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Lima, Peru, which is supported by the GCPP, has a programme for capacity building and training of law enforcement officials in Latin America. As a component of this work the Regional Centre has been involved in supporting local military and police with weapons destruction exercises.
	The UK is also one of a number of countries contributing to an ammunition destruction programme carried out in Albania by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), which aims to destroy 11,600 tonnes of small arms and light weapons ammunition over a four-year period.
	Further statistics on the type of weapons and ammunitions destroyed are not readily available.

Small Arms Global Pool

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the countries in which activities are taking place under the Small Arms Global Pool; and what the (a) targets and (b) achievements of those initiatives were in each case.

Hilary Benn: Under the UK Government's Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy (£19.5 million, 2001–04) seeks to control and reduce the supply, demand and availability of weapons. It does this by supporting policy development and programmes that assist a wide range of international organisations, regional organisations, Governments and NGOs to combat the proliferation and misuse of small arms.
	The four key areas that the strategy seeks to promote are:
	Policy focused research and analysis to evaluate the impact of programmes and design more effective arms control and reduction policies;
	Building consensus among Governments on the need for increased arms controls;
	Implementing practical projects such as weapons collection, management, and destruction, training of police and customs officers; and
	Integrating small arms controls into wider conflict prevention and poverty reduction programmes.
	For example, the UK has supported regional and sub regional efforts to combat SALW proliferation, and the development of long-term national programmes. The strategy has also supported work to build regional and international consensus on the need for an international agreement on small arms transfers and trade. This is done within the framework provided by the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (2001).
	The UK has contributed to the UN Development Programme's Small Arms and Demobilisation Unit global programme of weapons collection, stockpile management, capacity building and destruction within the context of disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration of ex-combatants and community development. UNDP is active in 45 countries in many parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and Central America.
	The GCPP has also supported a number of other initiatives including the work of:
	The NGO, Viva Rio, which works with police and communities in Brazil to improve security policy and tackle gun violence;
	The Nairobi Secretariat, which co-ordinates action for Governments and civil society in East Africa, Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa;
	National Governments, which are developing Action Plans, with civil society participation, in Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi and Kenya;
	SaferAfrica, Saferworld, and the Security Research and Information Centre, which undertake research, analysis, policy facilitation and practical programmes in East Africa, the Horn, Great Lakes Region and Southern Africa;
	International Alert, which carries out research and analysis projects in Europe, Latin America and West Africa; and
	International Action Network on Small Arms, which has established a global network and co-ordinates advocacy, awareness raising and campaigns among 500 civil society groups around the world.
	I have placed in the Library a table providing details of the work funded under the GCPP SALW strategy during the period 2001–04.

Water Supply/Sanitation

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the UK Government are taking to ensure that the agreement on sustainable development reached at the World Summit is fully implemented in respect of the halving by 2015 of the number of people without access to an adequate water supply and proper sanitation.

Hilary Benn: The key commitments on water and sanitation made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) were:
	a re-affirmation of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water;
	halving by the year 2015 the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation; and
	an agreement to develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005.
	In May 2003, a Sustainable Development Task Force was established to help ensure effective follow-up of the UK's WSSD commitments, and monitor progress towards sustainable development against the UK's 1999 sustainable development Strategy, "A Better Quality of Life". The Task Force, chaired by Defra Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, brings together Ministers from across Whitehall with colleagues from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and some key stakeholders.
	The last Task Force meeting, on 4 February 2004, considered DFID's draft Water Action Plan, which describes how DFID intends to take forward its commitments in water and sanitation, and continue to contribute to achieving the MDGs in a way that recognises that such efforts are most effective when they support plans drawn up by developing countries themselves. This will be presented to Parliament shortly.

World Trade Organisation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received from the World Trade Organisation on (a) meeting the targets and (b) implementing the policies agreed in Cancun.

Hilary Benn: Since Cancun all World Trade Organisation members have committed themselves to working to implement the Doha development commitments. While this is welcome, it is imperative that we turn these commitments into progress. The recent WTO General Council agreed on chairs being appointed to the general council and the negotiating groups. We must now seek to ensure that these negotiating groups agree adequate work plans on agriculture and Non Agricultural Market Access (NAMA), and on a resolution to the Singapore issues.

TREASURY

National Insurance

Julia Drown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to (a) employees and (b) others in (i) 10, (ii) 20 and (iii) 40 years of reducing the lower earnings limit for National Insurance (A) by £17 and (B) altogether.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimated increases in National Insurance contribution income of (A) reducing the primary threshold by 17 per week in 2003–04 or (B) reducing the primary threshold to zero, are shown in the following table.
	
		(£ billion)
		
			  (i) 2013–14 (ii) 2023–24 (iii) 2043–44 
		
		
			  (a) Effect on primary contributions of reducing the primary threshold 
			 (A) by 17 per week 2.2 2.3 2.3 
			 (B) to zero 12.0 12.3 12.2 
			  (b) Effect on secondary contributions if the secondary threshold is also reduced 
			 (A) by 17 per week 2.6 2.7 2.7 
			 (B) to zero 14.2 14.4 14.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are for Great Britain, on an accruals basis and the effect on total contributions allocated to both the NIF and NHS in 2003–04 price terms.
	Results based on the long-term estimates published in the Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund as at April 2000 (Cm 6008) assuming 2 per cent. a year real earnings growth. No allowance has been made for the effects of the most recent (2002-based) population projections, or any other information which has become available since the results underlying the Quinquennial Review were prepared.

National Insurance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of underpayments not pursued by the National Insurance Contributions office for tax years (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03; how many underpayments of less than £150 were not pursued in each of those tax years; how much these totalled in each of those tax years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: National insurance contributions identified as due, but not paid and subsequently written off, amounted to £189 million in 1999–2000; £180 million in 2000–01; £145 million in 2001–02; and £275 million in 2002–03. The amount in 2002–03 includes insolvent companies' debts accrued before July 2001 which were cleared from the accounts as part of a special exercise in that year.
	National insurance contributions may be written off where pursuit is unlikely to be successful, for example, because a company is insolvent; or where it is regarded as neither practical nor cost effective to pursue the debt, for example, because the debtor has gone abroad. Underpayments of less than £150 are not identified separately and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Close Companies

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of close companies that may currently be operated with the primary purpose of reducing owners' personal tax liability;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the loss to the Treasury from close companies that may currently be operated with the primary purpose of reducing owners' personal tax liability.

Dawn Primarolo: The vast majority of companies are run with the primary purpose of generating profits for shareholders, and a wide variety of strategies might be employed to minimise owners' tax liabilities. Consequently, it is impossible to say how many close companies are operating with the primary purpose of reducing owners' personal tax liability.

Close Companies

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of close companies which may operate with the primary purpose of reducing their owners' personal tax liability; and what value of tax revenues he estimates may thus be lost to the Exchequer.

Dawn Primarolo: The vast majority of companies are run with the primary purpose of generating profits for shareholders, and a wide variety of strategies might be employed to minimise owners' tax liabilities. Consequently, it is impossible to say how many close companies are operating with the primary purpose of reducing owners' personal tax liability or estimate the tax and national insurance that might be lost from such companies.

Copyright

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Customs and Excise has made of the loss of government revenue from counterfeiting and copyright theft in each of the last five years.

John Healey: No such estimates have been made.

Corporation Tax

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the impact of corporation tax rates on business in Northern Ireland.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government has received a number of representations on a wide range of subjects. The Government has cut corporation tax rates for all companies—since 1997 the main rate has been reduced from 33 per cent. to 30 per cent. and the small companies' rate from 23 per cent. to 19 per cent. The UK now has the lowest rates of corporation tax in history.

Demography

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the size of population in the Chorley constituency was in each of the last five years; and what projections have been made for each of the next five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 23 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the population of the Chorley constituency over the last five years, and the projected population for the next five years. (155307)
	The Office for National Statistics does not currently produce mid-year population estimates on parliamentary constituency boundaries. The lowest geography at which mid-year population estimates are currently published is local authority areas. However, Chorley is an unusual case in that the Parliamentary Constituency currently has the same boundaries as the Chorley Borough Council area. Therefore, the population estimates for the two areas will be the same.
	The population estimates for Chorley Borough Council area for the latest five years available, are given below. Published population estimates are rounded to the nearest 100 people.
	
		Mid-year population estimates for Chorley local authority, 1998–2002
		
			  Population (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1998 98.4 
			 1999 98.8 
			 2000 100.0 
			 2001 100.6 
			 2002 101.3 
		
	
	There are currently no official subnational population projections consistent with this series. The last official long-term subnational projections were based on 1996 population data and did not take account of the significant new information produced by the 2001 Census.

Departmental Minutes

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be made.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Financial Services

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken to estimate the impact of Basel 2 on (a) the UK lending industry and (b) those lenders with assets of less than £1 billion; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The new Basel Accord will be an international agreement on prudential capital, applying mainly to internationally active banks. Implementation of the new Basel Accord in Europe will be through a new Capital Adequacy Directive, which is expected to apply to all UK credit institutions and investment firms (as was the case for the implementation of the existing Basel Accord). The Treasury is currently consulting on the expected impact on all UK lenders ahead of a formal proposal from the European Commission expected later in the year.

Gold Reserves

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to sell more of the Bank of England's gold reserves.

Ruth Kelly: The Government currently have no plans to sell holdings of gold from their International Currency Reserves. We remain firmly committed to transparency so, if our plans were to change in the future, we would announce this publicly.

Illegal Meat Imports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise illegal meat enforcement strategy, with particular regard to the number of prosecutions that have been pursued;
	(2)  how many prosecutions there have been as a result of illegal meat seizures by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what Her Majesty's Customs and Excise's policy is on prosecuting people caught in possession of illegal meat at United Kingdom ports of entry.

John Healey: Customs' illegal meat enforcement strategy aims to deter and detect illegal imports and thereby reduce the risk of disease from such imports. The strategy delivers this aim through:
	(a) increasing passengers' awareness of the rules and regulations, encouraging the voluntary surrender of any illegal meat on arrival and increasingly discouraging the public from embarking on their journey to the UK with illegal meat in their possession;
	(b) anti-smuggling checks to detect illegal imports on the basis of risk assessment and intelligence;
	(c) seizing imports surrendered by passengers in the Red Channel or detected in the possession of passengers in the Green Channel;
	(d) issuing a seizure notice and warning letter to the owner where the illegal meat was not declared or surrendered;
	(e) responding flexibly to formal notifications by Defra or the Food Standards Agency by imposing additional restrictions in the event of an outbreak of animal disease or other circumstances which may present a risk to animal or human health.
	Within that overall policy, Customs consider cases for investigation and prosecution where suitable evidence is available, and in particular:
	serious cases involving repeat offenders;
	large scale imports;
	commercial smuggling;
	other aggravating circumstances.
	Customs have not undertaken any prosecutions since taking on responsibility for these anti-smuggling controls on 11 April 2003.
	The effectiveness of Customs' strategy is kept under continual review.

Illegal Meat Imports

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what trials Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has undertaken of x-ray equipment to detect illegal meat imports; and when they took place.

John Healey: Customs have undertaken a number of informal trials using their own x-ray equipment as well as external trials involving developments in x-ray technology offered by other manufacturers. The most recent trials took place in June last year.
	This is a constantly developing area and Customs remain committed to working with other UK and overseas agencies as well as manufacturers to make the most of new technology where it can provide good value for money.

Inland Revenue

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed by the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland.

Dawn Primarolo: At 1 April 2003, the number of people employed by the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland was 1,840, which represents 1,727 Full-Time Equivalent Units.

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums in United Kingdom claims on Iraq have been notified to the Paris Club, including interest, broken down by (a) government and (b) non-government claims.

John Healey: The Government have notified to the Paris Club unrecovered claims of £623 million arising from commercial export contracts with Iraq signed prior to the first Gulf conflict in 1991 insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. This amount does not include interest, which it is estimated could bring the figure to around £1.15 billion. The Paris Club deals only with claims arising out of government loans or government-insured commercial credits.
	The Government believe that Iraq's external debt is unsustainable and that creditors will need to agree a significant reduction through a clear multilateral process in order to restore Iraq to sustainability. That is likely to involve writing off the vast majority of Iraq's external debt.

Labour Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the unemployment rate was in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available; what the unemployment rate was in each ward in each principal seaside town of England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane dated 23 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what the unemployment rate was in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available; what the unemployment rate was in each ward in each principal seaside town of England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated. (154962)
	The unemployment rate in England and Wales for the period October-December 2003, the latest date for which information is available, was 4.8 per cent. This rate is seasonally adjusted and calculated using the standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment.
	The most recent data on unemployment rates by ward are taken from the 2001 Census. They are based on the number of people aged between 16 and 74 who were unemployed and seeking work at April 2001 as a proportion of all economically active people aged 16–74, apart from full-time students, at that date. This measure is not directly comparable with the rate using the ILO definition of unemployment above. The average unemployment rate at April 2001 for England and Wales as a whole was 5.2 per cent. on this basis.
	Data on the number of unemployed people who were seeking work in England and Wales was released in Table KS09a of the Census Key Statistics. The table showing information for wards in England and Wales can be viewed from the National Statistics web site at: http//neighbourhoodstatistics.gov.uk/Downloads.asp?nsid==false&CE=True&SE=Tme&T:=D&d sid=2891
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library a table, which shows the figures for all wards which are situated on the coast, and ordered by the unemployment rate as measured by the 2001 Census.

Land Transactions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue will prioritise the delivery of land transaction (a) forms and (b) certificates to Scottish solicitors to ensure that they meet the time limits to secure title to land imposed by Scottish law.

Ruth Kelly: The Inland Revenue is committed to issuing certificates within five working days of receipt of a properly completed return. It would not be practicable to give priority to the issue of certificates to Scottish addresses. However, in certain circumstances certificates in respect of transactions in Scotland can be obtained by personal attendance at Edinburgh Stamp Office. Return forms can be obtained in advance of settlement of land transactions so I see no reason why obtaining a return form should delay matters. In addition the Inland Revenue, and some software suppliers, offer the scope for forms to be completed on-line or on-screen and then printed off for signature.

Land Transactions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the reasons for delay in the Inland Revenue's distribution of land transaction (a) returns and (b) certificates to Scottish solicitors.

Ruth Kelly: The Inland Revenue is committed to issuing certificates within five working days of receipt of a properly completed return. This target has been achieved across the United Kingdom. In addition, in certain circumstances certificates in respect of transactions in Scotland can be obtained by personal attendance at Edinburgh Stamp Office.
	Return forms have been and are being sent out to all those who ask for them.

Land Transactions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Scottish solicitors about the effect of changes in stamp duty land tax on their work.

Ruth Kelly: The Inland Revenue has received many representations on several aspects of stamp duty land tax, including some from Scottish solicitors. In addition Inland Revenue officials are in regular discussion with the Law Society of Scotland on all aspects of stamp duty land tax.

London City Bonds

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the London City Bond bonded warehouse cases.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1552–53W.

London City Bonds

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the registered customs informants used since 1994 in the London City Bond cases.

John Healey: Consistent with long standing convention, it is not Customs policy to disclose publicly the identity of registered informants, except where necessary as part of the legal process.

Mr. Ed Balls

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he authorised the giving of a speech by his principal special adviser, Mr. Ed Balls, in Leeds on 3 February which included comments on the policy behind setting the level of interest rates; and whether the authorisation of such a speech on the day before a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England complies with the Government's policy on the independence of the Bank and the proper conduct of monetary policy.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The Chief Economic Adviser's speech reiterated the Government's long-standing position on monetary policy as set out most recently by the Chancellor in his 18 June 2003 speech to the Mansion House and is consistent with the Bank of England Act 1998.

Oil/Gas Sector

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in the oil and gas sector in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated 23 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about jobs in the oil and gas sector in Scotland. (155472)
	The table below shows the number of people in Scotland working in industries whose primary activities were described as:
	extraction of crude petroleum/natural gas
	service activities in oil and gas extraction
	manufacture of refined petroleum products
	manufacture/distribution of gas.
	Figures are provided for the years 1998 to 2002, the last five years for which data are available, and are obtained from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).
	
		Number of people in Scotland working in the oil and gas sector, 1998–2002
		
			  Number of people (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1998 26.6 
			 1999 24.5 
			 2000 21.6 
			 2001 23.6 
			 2002 22.9

Private Health Care

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is regarding whether a taxpayer's contribution towards the cost of private health care should be taxable.

Dawn Primarolo: I assume my right hon. Friend is referring to the provision of tax relief for these contributions. It is not the Government's policy that tax relief for private health care costs should be introduced. The Government's belief is that the best way to fund the nation's health needs is directly through the NHS from public expenditure, and not by subsidising those people who, for whatever reason, choose to make alternative arrangements.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) on 14 January 2004, Official Report, columns 812–15W.

Seaside Towns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of people in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales had a limiting long-standing illness on the latest date for which figures are available, listed in descending order with Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 23 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning limiting long-standing illness in seaside towns. (154950)
	The latest source of information on this topic is the 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Data on the number of people with a limiting long-term illness in England and Wales was released in Table KS08 of the Census Key Statistics. The table showing information for wards in England and Wales can be viewed from the National Statistics web site at: http://neighbourhood. statistics.gov.uk/Downloads.asp?nsid=false&CE=True&SE= True&T=D&dsid=2919
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library a table that shows the figures for all wards which are situated on the coast, and ordered by the percentage of people with a limiting long-term illness. There is no definitive list of principal seaside towns so this table includes those wards in England and Wales which have a boundary on the coast.

Seaside Towns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic inactivity rate in the UK was in the latest month for which figures are available; what percentage of the population of each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales was economically inactive in the latest month for which figures are available, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 23 February 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what the economic inactivity rate in the UK was in the latest month for which figures are available; what percentage of the population of each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales was economically inactive in the latest month for which figures are available, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated. (154965)
	The economic inactivity rate in the UK for people for the period October–December 2003, the latest date for which information is available, was 21.5 per cent. The data are seasonally adjusted and relate to all people aged between 16 and normal retirement age (64 for men, 59 for women).
	The most recent data on economic inactivity rates by ward are taken from the 2001 Census. They are based on the number of people aged between 16 and 74 who were retired, students, looking after home or family, permanently sick or disabled, or otherwise economically inactive at April 2001 as a proportion of all people aged 16–74 at that date. The average rate of economic inactivity at April 2001 for England and Wales as a whole was 33.5 per cent. on this basis. This figure is not on a comparable basis with that quoted above because the census based measure includes more retired people.
	Data on the number of people who were economically inactive in England and Wales was released in Table KS09a of the Census Key Statistics. The table showing information for wards in England and Wales can be viewed from the National Statistics web site at http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/Downloads. asp?nsid=false&CE=True&SE=True&T=D&dsid=2891
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library a table, which shows the figures for all wards which are situated on the coast, and ordered by the unemployment rate as measured by the 2001 Census.

Spirit Duty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a decision on the introduction of strip stamps on bottles of spirits before the Comptroller and Auditor General completes his review of the level of spirit duty fraud.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the remit is of the National Audit Office investigation into Customs and Excise estimates of duty diversion on spirits; what the timescale of the inquiry to report is; and whether the Treasury will implement its plans on strip stamps before the NAO conclusions are published.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1554W. The Chancellor announced in the Pre-Budget Report that the Government intends to introduce tax stamps for spirits as part of a reinforced strategy, to tackle alcohol fraud. However, the Government has also invited the industry to put forward alternative proposals equally effective in tackling fraud. Detailed discussions with the industry on this issue are continuing.

Tax Credits

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what money was paid to private contractors in (a) 2002–03 and (b) so far in 2003–04; and what the expected total payment is in 2003–04 for the delivery of the tax credit programme.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 161W.

Tax Credits

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) have taken up and (b) are entitled to tax credit in East Devon.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in each constituency and local authority receiving tax credits are shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical Analyses. January 2004." This is available on the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm
	No estimates are available of the number of families in each constituency or local authority that are entitled to these tax credits.

Tax Revenues

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been received from East Devon in respect of (a) inheritance tax, (b) capital gains tax and (c) stamp duty in each of the past seven years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested is not available.

UK Overseas Territories

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) taxation systems of the UK Overseas Territories.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government welcomes the progress made so far by the Overseas Territories in adopting international standards on financial regulation and transparency in tax matters, and is committed to encouraging them to meet international standards.

VAT Directive

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the review of Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive will be concluded.

John Healey: The review of the reduced rate provisions in Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive will not be concluded until European Commission proposals are either accepted by all Member States, or withdrawn. We have made clear that the current proposal, which challenges a number of the UK's VAT zero rates, is unacceptable.

Wage Payments (Overseas Accounts)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how many people domiciled in the UK are paid wages into overseas accounts.

Dawn Primarolo: I regret that this information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Shows

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural shows she has visited in the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: Since the formation of Defra on 8 June 2001 the Department's Ministers have attended a total of 27 agricultural shows.

Agriculture andEnvironment Biotechnology Committee

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee report on co-existence and liability; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We are currently considering the AEBC report and will give our response in due course.

Avian Influenza

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) Thailand and (b) other countries in South East Asia about the recent outbreak of avian influenza in the region.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 30 January 2004
	The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with her counterparts in Thailand or other countries in South East Asia. Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health have been closely monitoring the development of avian influenza in Thailand and other countries in South East Asia. The European Commission have been in constant contact with the Thai authorities and are reporting their findings to all member states.

Avian Influenza

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries no longer export chickens to the UK following the outbreak of bird influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Outbreaks of avian influenza have been reported in Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, including the Territory of Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Under EU rules none of these countries is allowed to export live poultry or hatching eggs to the EU. Imports of poultry meat are permitted from Thailand only.
	The risk of the avian influenza virus spreading through meat is low. However, the European Commission took action on 23 January to ban imports from Thailand of fresh/frozen poultry meat and cooked poultry meat that has not been heat treated to at least 70°C, unless it is accompanied by additional certification confirming that it was from birds slaughtered before 1 January 2004. Poultry meat products which have been cooked to 70°C or more are not considered to be a risk and may still be exported to the EU. The UK took immediate action to implement these measures in domestic law.

Bio-accumulative Chemicals

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research has been carried out (a) by and (b) for her Department on the levels of persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals in the food chain and environment in the Thames Estuary.

Elliot Morley: The Department has not recently undertaken research specifically on the levels of persistent and bio-accumulative chemical in the food chain and environment in the Thames Estuary. However, the Environment Agency has an on-going monitoring programme in the Thames Estuary which includes the following persistent and bio-accumulative substances:
	1,2,3 trichlorobenzene; 1,2,4 trichlorobenzene; 1,3,5 trichlorobenzene; Aldrin; Anthracene; Benzo (a) pyrene; DDE (pp); DOT (op); DOT (pp); DOT total; Dieldrin; Drins total; Endosulphan a; Endosulphan b; Endrin; Fenitrothion; HCB; HCH alpha; HCH beta; HCH delta; HCH gamma; HCH Total; Hexachlorobenzene; Hexachlorobutadiene; Isodrin; Lambda- cyhalothrin; PCB 101; PCB 118; PCB 138; PCB 153; PCB 180; PCB 28; PCB 52; PCB Total (Congeners 28,52, 101,118, 138,153,180); TDE (pp); Tributyltin; Trichlorobenzene total; Trifluralin
	In addition, the Food Standards Agency has a statutory monitoring programme to detect marine biotoxins in shellfish sampled from shellfish harvesting waters. The Agencies also keep abreast of research relating to Thames Estuary, including a recent study on tributyl tin levels.

Biodegradable Plastic Bags

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the use of biodegradable plastic bags.

Elliot Morley: Government are not taking steps to promote the use of biodegradable plastic bags. The use of degradable plastics that are made from fossil fuel, and specifically designed for disposal with no beneficial recovery potential, runs counter to the Government's aim to increase recycling. In addition, if disposed of in landfill rather than, for example, being composted, biodegradable waste breaks down to release methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas.
	The Government do support the development of biodegradable plastics from non-fossil sources. The Government-Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops has concluded that there is an opportunity to produce compostable packaging materials in the UK. Defra is currently drawing up a Non-Food Crops Strategy. A draft is expected to be issued for consultation later in 2004.

Bovine TB

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the spread of bovine TB in (a) the North West and (b) each county in the North West.

Ben Bradshaw: Statistics are collected by areas covered by Animal Health Divisional Offices (AHDOs). Carlisle AHDO covers Cumbria. Preston AHDO covers Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
	In Cumbria, there were 3,969 registered herds in 2003, with 1,949 TB herd tests carried out. Provisional data show there were 70 new herd TB incidents in 2003, of which 15 were confirmed (three remain unclassified). In 2002. there were 4,041 registered herds, and 1,504 herd tests carried out. There were 33 new herd incidents, of which 10 were confirmed.
	The increase in incidence in Cumbria is giving some concern. TB testing is now being carried out on all farms in an area of South West Cumbria known as the Furness Peninsula, concurrent with a survey of badgers (killed in Road Traffic Accidents) and deer (culled, or found dead, with suspicious lesions) in the same geographical area. It is hoped the data collected will help inform decisions about TB controls in the area.
	In the area covered by Preston AHDO, there were 3,160 registered herds in 2003, with 918 herd tests carried out. Provisional data show five TB herd incidents, with one confirmed. In 2002, there were 3,303 registered herds, and 1,126 herd tests. These resulted in nine TB incidents, with none confirmed.
	There has been a recent breakdown in a herd in Greater Manchester, but this has not yet been confirmed at post-mortem.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the preferred foods of adult badgers are; and on what foods they rely when their preferred foods are in short supply.

Ben Bradshaw: Badgers eat both animal and plant material and are considered to be largely opportunistic in their choice of food. Although they feed on a wide range of foodstuffs, earthworms are the most important single item in the diet of British badgers. Because these and other food types are taken according to their availability, the diet of badgers varies both geographically and seasonally 1 .
	1 The Handbook of British Mammals (1991). Third Edition. Edited by GB Corbet and S. Harris. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what diseases, other than tuberculosis, badgers are susceptible.

Ben Bradshaw: Rabies and distemper have been found in badgers in other European countries but these diseases have not been detected in UK populations. Badgers are also susceptible to bacterial infections, including leptospirosis and salmonellosis.

Bovine TB

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total paid in compensation to farmers for bovine tuberculosis was in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total was paid in excess of the market value of the animals destroyed.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table gives the compensation paid to farmers for cattle slaughtered under TB control measures 1998 to 2002.
	
		£
		
			  Compensation paid 
		
		
			 1998 3,605,242 
			 1999 5,770,983 
			 2000 7,307,797 
			 2001 7,074,125 
			 2002 23,138,512 
		
	
	There is evidence from a National Audit Office study carried out in Wales in 2002 and from other sources that, overall, average compensation payments are significantly higher than average market prices. However, it is difficult to quantify the extent of this disparity.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's progress towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Provisional data for 2002 shows that carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 8.7 per cent. between 1990 and 2002.
	The Government aims to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by around 2050, with real progress towards this goal by 2020. To put us on course, we estimate that in addition to the cuts from existing policies in the Climate Change Programme we will need to aim for further cuts of 15–25 MtC (million tonnes of carbon) by 2020. As set out in the Energy White Paper, published in February 2003, the key measures to achieve this goal will be to increase the share of renewable energy and reduce energy demand by increasing energy efficiency.
	On renewables, the Government's target is for 10 per cent. of UK electricity to be supplied from renewable sources by 2010, with an aspiration to double this share to 20 per cent. by 2020. Though we have started from a low base we are making encouraging progress towards the 2010 target. The Government has also announced its intention to raise the levels of the Renewables Obligation beyond 2010/11. Further yearly targets have been set, reaching 15.4 per cent. in 2015/2016.
	On energy efficiency, the Government plans to publish its Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan in the spring, which will set out how it intends to deliver the White Paper commitments.

Carbon Trust

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Carbon Trust budget for the last financial year has been allocated for projects in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland; what proportion remains unallocated; what funds have been allocated to hydrogen demonstration and innovation projects; and what proportion of funds have been allocated to small and medium enterprises.

Elliot Morley: The Carbon Trust is a private company limited by guarantee that receives funding from: the Climate Change Levy (via Defra for England and via separate relationships with the Devolved Administrations); Defra for the non-domestic element of the UK wide Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPp). The Carbon Trust was allocated a total of £49.6 million for 2002–03 (including £17.1 million from the EEBPp) by my Department.
	The Carbon Trust carried out an assessment of the technologies needed to deliver a low carbon economy to inform the development of its Innovation Programme. Suitable proposals for hydrogen based technologies such as fuel cells, infrastructure and hydrogen production will be considered as priorities. But no specific sum has been set aside for these technologies.
	The Carbon Trust manages Action Energy, the UK's main energy efficiency information, advice and research programme for organisations in the public and business sectors. Action Energy services including site visits are available to UK businesses regardless of size. The Carbon Trust also run the Action Energy Loan fund that provides loans of between £5,000 and £50,000 specifically to Small and Medium Enterprises for energy efficiency projects.

Chicken Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research into broiler chicken welfare she has (a) commissioned and (b) received, with particular reference to issues of lameness in broiler chickens kept at stocking densities above 30 kilograms per square metre.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has commissioned research projects into a number of areas. This includes projects on the effect of stocking density and the causes and management of leg health problems. These issues are highly complex and there are many factors influencing the welfare conditions of meat chickens. The Department continues to review the results of research and assess proposals that have been received. Details of the Department's research programme are published on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk

Chicken Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government will support the recommendations of the report from the EU Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare on chicken welfare.

Ben Bradshaw: The report of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare is the first step in enabling the Commission to produce proposals on specific welfare standards for meat chickens. The UK will take account of the recommendations alongside other evidence during the negotiations on the proposals. The Commission expects to issue proposals later this year.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average recovery level achieved by licensed UK plants in respect of CFC R12 from refrigeration equipment was in each year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: For 2003, the average recovery level of CFC R12 achieved at fridge destruction facilities in England and Wales was 50.5 g per unit and for CFC R11 186.13 g, therefore giving a total of 236.63 g per fridge.
	For 2001 and 2002, figures for CFC R12 and CFC R11 are not separately available.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many items of equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were processed in each year for which CFC recovery figures are available.

Elliot Morley: For the year 2002, 299,000 items of equipment containing refrigerants were treated in England and Wales and 418,000 units were exported for recovery to Germany and the Netherlands.
	For the year 2003, 979,336 items of equipment containing refrigerants treated in England and Wales and 377,168 units exported for treatment to Germany, Netherlands and Denmark.
	Not all the refrigerants within the equipment were CFCs. Reporting mechanisms for future years will undertake to distinguish between different refrigerants.

Civil Liability (Claims/Actions)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil liability (a) claims and (b) actions (i) have been initiated and (ii) are pending, by or on behalf of her Department against (A) contractors, (B) farmers and (C) others, in respect of claims made for works undertaken on behalf of her Department; how many court hearings have been completed; how many cases have been successful; and how much money has been (1) recovered and (2) saved as a result of these actions.

Alun Michael: The Department launched civil proceedings against one contractor in the Mayors and City of London county court and obtained judgment against the contractor on 6 January 2004.
	Three prosecutions were commenced into fraudulent claims for compensation by farmers: one farmer pleaded guilty, two farmers were acquitted. There are no outstanding civil or criminal prosecutions against farmers.
	Currently, there are five civil cases in the Courts pertaining to expenditure with contractors on goods, services and works during the FMD outbreak in 2001. It would be inappropriate to comment on cases that are the subject of ongoing court proceedings. Similarly, public comment cannot be made on civil or criminal cases that are pending.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Douglas Alexander) on 9 February, Official Report, column 1293W.

Combustion Plants

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many states in the EU who operate indigenous coal industries have applied for the Emissions Limited Values option within the Large Combustion Plant Directive.

Elliot Morley: The Directive requires that member states send their National Plan to the Commission if they propose to follow this option. According to the latest information provided by the European Commission, two other member states, Ireland and Finland, have submitted a National Plan in addition to the UK. There is no requirement on member states to notify the Commission if they intend to adopt the alternative Emissions Limit Value option

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use has been made by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management of the final report of the information needs research project commissioned by her Department in 2002; and if she will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Elliot Morley: The Committee will consider this and other relevant reports when drawing up its work programme, agreeing this work programme with sponsoring Ministers, and subsequently implementing this agreed programme. The report, published in October 2002, under the reference Defra/RAS/02.014, may be accessed via Defra's Radioactive Substances Research website (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/radioactivity/research/index.htm). I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual budget in 2003–04 for the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management is; and what plans she has, in consultation with the devolved Administrations, to increase its budgets.

Elliot Morley: For this financial year, CoRWM is working within existing Defra budgets to formulate its detailed work programme and associated estimates of resource needs. This programme and estimates, once agreed with sponsoring Ministers, will provide the basis for formally allocated Committee budgets for subsequent financial years.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management is empowered to sub-contract research to consultants.

Elliot Morley: It is for CoRWM to judge what contracts, or sub-contracts may be required to enable it to carry out its programme. Contracts will be placed by my Department on behalf of CoRWM. All contracts and sub-contracts, which, in CoRWM's view, materially impact on its work programme, will be subject to approval by CoRWM. In all cases, Government procurement procedures will apply.

Comprehensive Performance Assessment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on including energy in the comprehensive performance assessment.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Defra Ministers have had a number of discussions involving colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the interaction between the comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) and Defra's policies that relate to local government. Similar discussions have also taken place at official level. These discussions have included issues relating to energy.
	Proposals for redesigning the CPA methodology are currently the subject of an Audit Commission consultation paper. A key objective of these proposals is for CPA to respond to the shared priorities agreed between central and local government. This is intended to improve the ability of CPA to reflect cross cutting issues like sustainable energy, including energy efficiency and related issues such as fuel poverty.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 9 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Warrich.

Margaret Beckett: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 16 February 2004.

Dee Cockle Regulation Order

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will hasten implementation of the Dee Cockle Regulation Order following the incident in Morecambe Bay on Thursday 5 February.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department will take action to make a Regulating Order under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 once the prospective grantee, the Environment Agency in Wales, has submitted a formal application for an Order. I understand that the Agency has made good progress in obtaining the necessary written consents from landowners and that it expects to forward its formal application to the Department in March.

Departmental Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  who the members of (a) the governing board of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, (b) the Sea Fisheries Committee and (c) the Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee were on 1 January; what the term of office of each member is; and what their remuneration is;
	(2)  who the members of (a) the Home Grown Cereals Authority, (b) Horticulture Research International, (c) the Meat and Livestock Commission, (d) the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal and (e) the Regional Floods Defence Committee were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is;
	(3)  who the members of (a) the Advisory Committee on New Foods and Processes, (b) the Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee, (c) the Apple and Pear Research Council, (d) the British Potato Council and (e) the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is.

Alun Michael: I am sending a copy of the information requested to my hon. Friend and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Minutes

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be taken.

Margaret Beckett: My Department follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Environment Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed by the Environment Agency in January (a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2004.

Elliot Morley: The number of staff employed by the Environment Agency (including temporary and part-time staff) was as follows:
	(a) January 1997—9,123
	(b) January 2000—10,296
	(c) January 2004—11,532

Environment Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Environment Agency's budget in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2003–04 was spent on national insurance contributions.

Elliot Morley: The proportion of the Environment Agency's budget spent on National Insurance contributions is as follows:
	(a) 1999–2000: 2.6 per cent.
	(b) 2003–04: 2.7 per cent. (forecasted)

Environmental Education

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether funding for environmental education in schools will change when the landfill tax credit scheme is amended.

Elliot Morley: No formal assessment has been made by this Department of the funding of environmental education in schools.
	Environmental education forms a part of the national curriculum for schools. A number of non-curriculum waste education projects received funding through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme was announced in the Pre-Budget Report in 2002. As a result, waste projects are no longer eligible for funding. However, certain types of environmental educational projects are eligible for funding under the current scheme, for example, in the biodiversity category.
	A sustainable waste delivery public spending programme, administered by Defra, has been established following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, to ensure that sustainable alternatives to landfill disposal are widely available. Under the public expenditure programme the Waste and Resources Action Programme is responsible for taking forward work on waste awareness.

European Commission Payments

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated value is of payments due from the European Commission in respect of expenditures incurred and payments made by her Department, for which no claim has yet been made.

Alun Michael: The payments due from the European Commission for expenditures incurred as at December 2003 are £235,575,256.02.
	The Rural Payments Agency's (RPA) December 2003 claim was lodged with the Commission on 9 January 2004 for reimbursement at the beginning of February 2004.
	The payments made by the RPA as at January 2004 for which no claim has yet been made are £184,382,364.07.
	The January 2004 claim is due to be lodged with the Commission on 10 February 2004 for reimbursement to the RPA at the beginning of March 2004.

Transgenic Fish

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list applications for licences to import transgenic fish made in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: There have been no applications for licences to import transgenic fish.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the United Kingdom is in 2003–04 of maintaining the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour Working Group.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to give the annual cost of maintaining the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour Working Group because the ICES budget does not separately identify individual working groups.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the financial contribution made by the United Kingdom Government to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas was for each of the last five financial years; and what proportion of those contributions was spent on fisheries research.

Ben Bradshaw: The United Kingdom Government contributed the following amounts:
	
		
			  Danish Krona 
		
		
			 2003–04 1,425,600 
			 2002–03 1,384,000 
			 2001–02 1,354,000 
			 2000–01 1,314,480 
			 1999–2000 1,276,200 
		
	
	It is not possible to determine how much of the UK's contribution was spent on fisheries research because the ICES budget does not separately identify such research. Individual countries' contributions are not allocated to specific areas of work.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has conducted into the extent to which the level of one fish stock is affected by the levels of fish stocks of similar species sharing the same habitat.

Ben Bradshaw: Models which look at the interaction between species are still being developed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). However, the evidence to date suggests that, in most cases, the level of one species is a relatively minor factor in the level of similar species, due to the rich marine food webs.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for the relative decline in cod biomass in the North Sea; and to what extent stocks have been affected by (a) long-term changes in sea temperatures, (b) predation and competition by other fish species, (c) commercial exploitation of food supplies upon which cod stocks rely, (d) seals, (e) overfishing and (f) other factors.

Ben Bradshaw: Scientists advise that over the last 20 years the fishing rate on cod has been five times that required to promote optimal use of the cod stock, and the fishery captures too many immature fish. On average less than 5 per cent. of each new brood now survives to maturity, and the cod age structure is very restricted. The stock is severely overfished, the biomass of mature fish has shown a prolonged decline, and the number of young cod entering the stock decreased in the mid-1980s.
	The ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) advises that the reduction in recruitment can be at least partly explained by a reduction in the quantity and quality of eggs produced by a reduced spawning stock. There is speculation about the effect of environmental change and species interactions because of increased water temperature, and various contemporaneous changes in other species, but work carried out on these factors does not yet allow them to be quantified. ACFM notes that there may be some changes to the natural mortality of cod, such as a decrease on younger ages, possibly due to reduced cannibalism, and an increase on older ages due to seal predation, but the supporting evidence for these changes is weak.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what independent scientific advice she uses in relation to fisheries management; and if she will publish the advice she has received in relation to increased fishing effort for haddock while protecting cod stocks.

Ben Bradshaw: We and other EU member states receive independent advice on fish stocks from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The latest such advice on haddock has already been published by ICES on their website: http//www.ices.dk/
	The European Union's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries has also considered the mixed cod and haddock fisheries but the European Commission has yet to publish its work.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the accuracy of scientific assessments of the levels of fish stocks.

Ben Bradshaw: ICES stock assessments are carried out internationally using landings and biological and survey data that are analysed in a standard way by methods that are well-known and are accepted by the international fisheries science community. Results are dependent on the quality of the data, and on our understanding of biological processes in the sea. It is accepted that the data and the methods are not perfect, but they are the best available. Assessment results are reviewed within ICES by ACFM, as well as by the North Sea Fisheries Commission Partnership in the case of the North Sea stocks, and ACFM is further developing quality assurance and review processes.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned on the effect of escape behaviour between different species on mortality rates for cod in North Sea fisheries.

Ben Bradshaw: Differences in escape behaviour alone are not significant determinants of fishing mortality. The combination of escape behaviour and net design can be a factor and considerable research has been conducted into net designs which will, for example, reduce fishing mortality of juvenile cod. One option is to separate cod from other species within the trawl and then subject them to a different selection process (e.g. a larger mesh size) when they try to escape. Alternatively, it may be possible to design nets so that some species, including cod, avoid the net completely. Each fishery targeting different ranges of species may require a different complex design with the aim of catching the marketable species and releasing the unwanted species. Research is ongoing in the UK, in collaboration with commercial fishermen.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) EU, (b) UK and (c) French fisheries observers have spent research time on board (i) industrial trawlers, (ii) bass pair trawlers and (iii) other pelagic trawl fisheries vessels operating in areas (A) VII and (B) VIII in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 4 February 2004
	As part of Defra-funded research into cetacean bycatch, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) carried out eight days of observations at sea in 2000, 25 days in 2001 and four in 2002 in the following UK pelagic fisheries in Area VII: mackerel, pilchard, whiting and anchovy.
	In the offshore pair trawl fishery for bass in Area VII, SMRU undertook 72 days of observations in 2001, 40 days in 2002 and 87 in the spring of 2003. Further observations have been taking place in the bass fishery since December 2003 but data are not yet available. Defra does not hold records of observations undertaken by other member states in these areas.
	In addition, observers from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) undertook 13 days' monitoring of English or Welsh registered vessels fishing for pelagic species in 2003 in Area VII and Area VIII. This work, which observed about 33 hours fishing, met obligations under the EU discard monitoring programme. CEFAS also undertook monitoring in Area VIId in 2001 for a total of about 21 hours fishing.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of whether fishing effort managed by limiting days at sea, including the banning of discards, is an effective fisheries management tool.

Ben Bradshaw: Scientific assessments have shown that fishing mortality on key species such as cod is too high in waters around the UK. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas on their own have not been effective in reducing fishing mortality to sustainable levels. In December 2002 and again in December 2003, EU Fisheries Ministers agreed limitations on days at sea to complement reductions in TACs—it is too early to assess what impact these restrictions will have had on fishing mortality.
	A discards ban is a separate management tool to a days at sea scheme. At present a ban on discards is not yet considered to be practicable. The European Commission published an action plan in November 2002 which suggested a number of options to reduce discarding, including consideration in the medium term of a discards ban. The UK and other member states have welcomed the Commission's intention to try out the ideas in its action plan through a series of pilot projects.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted on the effectiveness of hybrid systems which use total allowable catches, days at sea and individual species quotas.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no such research available applicable to EU waters because the EU has only recently introduced days at sea rules to support the Total allowable catches (TACs) set for cod and other threatened species. In the past, TACs alone have not been respected. It is too soon for research to show whether the new approach is more effective.

Flood Defence (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the flood defence works in the Chorley constituency; how many contracts have been let in connection with it; and what the value of the contracts is.

Elliot Morley: The following contracts have been awarded by the Environment Agency:
	Capital Works:
	Croston Flood Wall—Works started on the 5 January 2004 to improve existing flood defence walls along the River Yarrow, which protect the village of Croston: (estimated cost £680,000).
	Strategic Studies and Investigations—A strategic study of flood risk management need is currently under way covering the River Douglas catchment area: (estimated cost £100,000).
	In addition, EA's own maintenance works include:
	Revenue Works :
	Heavy Maintenance—Work is to be carried out along the north bank, upstream of Fishery Bridge at the west side of Croston village. This will safeguard the existing flood defences against erosion: (estimated cost £20,000).
	Routine Maintenance—(estimated cost £75,000).

Fresh Water Fisheries

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the recommendations of the Warren Committee on Fresh Water Fisheries she plans to implement; and when.[R]

Ben Bradshaw: As explained in the Government response to the report of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group chaired by Professor Lynda Warren, issued in February 2002, the Government accepted (in full or in part) most of the 195 recommendations made by the review group. Those which can be implemented without the need for primary legislation have now been implemented. Work is proceeding towards the development of primary legislation required to implement other accepted recommendations, and this will be taken forward as and when the pressure of the legislative programme on parliamentary time permits.

Game Laws

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs have been incurred in administering game licences in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and what fee income was raised in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: The estimated costs and revenue from game licensing for the last three years 1 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of licences Cost of administering (excluding VAT) (£) Gross revenue (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 48,385 261,900 251,884 
			 2000–01 42,310 224,792 217,408 
			 1999–2000 39,262 217,822 195,617 
		
	
	(16) There are no figures available for the years prior to 1999 and information for 2002–03 has yet to be received from the Post Office.
	These values refer to game licences issued by Post Offices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	In addition to the licences referred to above, district councils and London borough councils issue licences to deal in game. No figures are collected centrally for the numbers of licences issued by councils. We understand that arrangements and charges vary.

Game Laws

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review game (a) laws and (b) licences.

Ben Bradshaw: It is our intention to review the game laws, including the licensing provisions established by the Game Licences Act, 1861. Announcements about timing and scope of a review and consultation arrangements will be made in due course.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to commission independent research into the environmental effects of growing GM maize using pesticides other than Atrazine.

Elliot Morley: Further research investigating the environmental effects of growing GM maize in relation to the phasing-out of Atrazine was recommended by the Government's statutory advisers on GM crop releases—The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE)—in January 2004 (see www. Defra.gov.uk/environment/acre). Accordingly, we are currently considering our research requirements in this area.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the maximum level of GM material in seed for planting to ensure a harvested crop does not contain more than the 0.9 per cent. threshold of GM material required under EU regulations for produce to be classified GM-free.

Elliot Morley: I refer the right hon. Member to the assessment made by the EU Scientific Committee on Plants which advises that the Commission's proposed labelling thresholds for the marketing of seeds are based on the need to achieve the separate 0.9 per cent. labelling threshold for adventitious GM presence in non-GM food and feed products. Table 1 of the Scientific Committee's Opinion suggests that the Commission's proposed thresholds could achieve harvested crop thresholds of 0.81 per cent. for oilseed rape, 0.57 per cent. for maize and 0.67 per cent. for sugar beet.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the economic (a) benefits and (b) disbenefits to UK farmers of growing GM maize.

Elliot Morley: As part of the GM Dialogue the Strategy Unit carried out a study of the costs and benefits of GM crops. Their report "Field Work: weighing up the costs and benefits of GM crops" was published on 11 July last year. The Unit concluded that GM crops could offer some cost and convenience advantages to UK farmers, although any economic benefit is likely to be limited in the short-term as only a narrow range of existing GM crops are currently suited to UK conditions, and weak consumer demand may limit take-up. In the longer term it concluded that future developments in GM crops have the potential to offer more wide-ranging benefits, to both farmers and consumers.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to commission independent research on (a) gene transfer and (b) co-existence in relation to GM crops.

Elliot Morley: Details of previously commissioned research on gene flow from GM crops are available at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/index.htm. Several Defra-funded projects looking at aspects of gene flow that are relevant to co-existence are still in progress. We constantly review our research requirements and may commission further work in future. The Government is currently considering a report on co-existence by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to vote to maintain the GM moratorium in Europe on 18 February.

Elliot Morley: No such vote is proposed on 18 February as there is no official moratorium on this matter in the EU. The Government supports the European Commission's view that the EU has an operating legislative framework for the consideration of applications for consent to market GM food and crops on the basis of proper human health and environmental safety criteria. The vote on 18 February was in relation to one such application for consent made within this framework
	The application under consideration is for the import and marketing of GM maize line NK603 for processing for use as animal feed. Consent for this GM maize, if granted, would not permit cultivation or use in food. Four varieties of GM maize already have EU marketing consents which were granted in 1997–98.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has (a) given to and (b) received from the UK delegates attending European Commission regulatory standing and management committees on GM seed.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The Government has advised UK delegates attending EU committee meetings on GM seeds to support, in principle, the introduction of measures, including labelling provisions, to control adventitious GM presence in non-GM seeds. UK delegates have reported on the discussions that have taken place. The Government is still considering its position with regard to the levels at which any thresholds for the adventitious presence of GMOs in seeds should be set.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to (a) announce her policy on growing GM crops in the UK and (b) decide the outcome of applications for licences to grow GM crops which are the responsibility of the UK to determine.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The Government is now considering its overall policy on GM crops in the light of all the available information. This includes the reports of the public debate and science review, the study of the costs and benefits, the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission's report on co-existence and liability and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment's advice on the Farm Scale Evaluation research. We are aiming to set out our conclusions shortly.
	The procedures for considering applications to release or market genetically modified organisms are set out in EC Directive 2001/18. Currently 13 applications to place GM crops on the market for cultivation have been submitted to EU member states, none of these applications have been made through the UK as the lead member state.
	If the lead member state considers that an application complies with the Directive it is required to forward its assessment report to the European Commission. The application is then subject to a collective decision by all member states.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that UK decisions on applications to (a) grow and (b) use GM crops and foodstuffs are subject to parliamentary approval.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The procedures for assessing applications are set out in the relevant EU legislation, either Directive 2001/18 on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms or the Novel Foods Regulation 258/97, and in the implementing legislation. These were subject to parliamentary scrutiny at the time. The legislation provides for decisions to be taken on individual applications by Government. Final decisions on commercial approvals for GM crops and foodstuffs are taken collectively by EU member states.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the basis of the decision by the Belgian Government to refuse an application for a licence to grow GM oilseed rape in the EU.

Elliot Morley: Applications for the deliberate release of GM organisms into the environment are assessed under the procedures set out in EC Directive 2001/18. No assessment has been made by the UK Government of the application to import and cultivate "Ms8xRf3" GM oil seed rape because notification of the Belgian competent authority's opinion has not yet been circulated by the Commission. When the application and the Belgian assessment is forwarded to us we will consider it very carefully in the light of the scientific evidence of any risks it may pose to human health and the environment.

Hazardous Waste

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the conclusions of the recent report by the Hazardous Waste Forum in respect of her Department's hazardous waste management strategy.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The Hazardous Waste Forum published its Action Plan in December. The Forum's recommendations centre around four main themes:
	(i) There should be clarity and firm and fair enforcement of regulatory and legislative requirements, particularly with respect to the Landfill Directive.
	(ii) There should be greater awareness raising amongst business and industry to promote waste minimisation and environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes.
	(iii) There needs to be clear information on the likely capacity requirements for treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, and that a task force should be set up to review progress on the provision of this capacity.
	(iv) That for the longer term, work should be put in hand to build on Waste Strategy 2000 to develop policy instruments to encourage waste minimisation and environmentally sound management, to develop better data on hazardous waste arisings and develop targets for hazardous waste reduction, and to address issues concerned with household hazardous waste.
	Actions are and have been taken with respect to these recommendations. In particular the Government will shortly be announcing the outcome of the consultation on the implementation of the EU Council Decision on Waste Acceptance Criteria under the Landfill Directive. In addition, a treatment and capacity task force has been set up under the chairmanship of the waste industry to get better information on industry plans for treatment and disposal facilities. The consideration and development of further policy instruments is likely to form part of the Forum's work for this year.

Hazardous Waste

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the possible impact of implementing EU Directives relating to hazardous waste on the number of available dumping sites after July.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 February 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 14 January, Official Report, column 737W.
	The treatment and disposal capacity task force of the Hazardous Waste Forum are currently assessing and updating the information in this table as industry plans develop.

Hill Farmers (Environmental Standards)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the impact on hill farmers on the implementation by English Nature of EU directives setting environmental standards in (a) North Yorkshire, (b) Cumbria and (c) other parts of England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department receives a number of representations from farmers on a range of issues but I am not aware of any specifically concerning the impact on hill farmers of the implementation of EU directives by English Nature.

Elephant Ivory

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made regarding the fulfilment of conditions for the proposed sales of elephant ivory stockpiles under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa in (a) importing countries and (b) exporting countries.

Elliot Morley: It was an essential part of the decision at the last Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that a number of strict conditions should be fulfilled before any of the proposed sales of ivory stockpiles went ahead. These included the provision of baseline data on elephant populations and poaching levels under the MIKE process (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) and confirmation by the CITES Secretariat that the potential importing countries could effectively regulate their domestic ivory markets. These issues will be discussed at the CITES Standing Committee meeting in Geneva next month. It is therefore too soon to make a definitive assessment but the UK Government remains clear that these sales must not proceed if these conditions have not been fulfilled.

Elephant Ivory

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy on the trade in elephant ivory; what discussions she has had with Ministers from other countries about the trade in elephant ivory; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have discussed the ivory trade with Ministers from other countries on a number of occasions, most recently during my visit to Kenya in October 2003. Officials have also discussed this issue several times in the EC CITES Committee (the Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora), most recently on 29 January 2004. The UK Government are strongly opposed to the illegal and unsustainable trade in elephant ivory.

Elephant Ivory

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the results from the Elephant Trade Information System; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The last comprehensive report on the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) was presented by TRAFFIC at the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in November 2002. This concluded that the illegal trade in ivory is directly correlated to the presence of large-scale, unregulated ivory markets, predominantly found in West and Central Africa, China and Thailand. The report attributed the upward trend in seized ivory since 1998 to the increased demand for ivory consequent upon increased economic prosperity within China.
	The UK shares TRAFFIC's concerns about the need to regulate domestic ivory markets around the world. Within the UK and the EU as a whole, trade in ivory is strictly regulated through a licensing system. Permits for the sale of ivory are not issued unless it can be shown that the ivory was legally acquired before the current world-wide ban on commercial trade in ivory came into force in 1990.
	Last year the Government contributed some £60,000 to help ETIS continue its good work in monitoring the illegal trade in ivory and we will be providing an additional £20,000 this year.

Elephant Ivory

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the amount of illegal ivory sold in the United Kingdom through the antiques trade in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We have made no such estimates. If we were given evidence that illegal ivory was being sold through the antiques trade we would ask the appropriate enforcement authorities to investigate any allegations that are brought to our attention.
	All imports, re-exports and sales of antique ivory are controlled under the appropriate EC regulations, and permits and certificates are not issued unless we are satisfied as to their origin. In addition, my Department, HM Customs and Excise and the police, along with non-governmental organisations such as LAPADA (the Association of Art and Antique Dealers), work together to increase public awareness of the wildlife trade controls.

Ivory Trade

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with other members of the European Union regarding the ivory trade in advance of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in March.

Elliot Morley: This issue has been discussed on several occasions in the EC CITES Committee (the Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora), most recently on 29 January 2004. The UK Government is strongly opposed to the illegal and unsustainable trade in elephant ivory and this is reflected in the European Union stance on this issue. EU Member States will insist at the CITES Standing Committee in Geneva in March 2004, that all the very strict conditions governing the one-off sale of ivory by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are met in full before any trade is allowed to go ahead.

Ivory Trade

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she will take at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to prevent an expansion in the ivory trade; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We do not yet know what proposals on elephant ivory, if any, will be made at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Bangkok in October. However, we are concerned that the market for ivory may be poorly regulated in a number of countries around the world, thereby allowing the illegal trade to continue. We will, therefore, work with our partners within the EU and other CITES Parties to ensure that there is no relaxation of the current ban on commercial trade in ivory, unless it can be shown that very strict measures are in place to ensure that such trade would not be detrimental to the conservation of this species in the wild.

Ivory Trade

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 29 January 2004, Official Report, column 496W, on ivory, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in ivory imports in 2003.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2004
	Defra has not made a formal assessment. It is clear, however, that very little ivory has been imported to the UK in recent years. There was an increase in 2003, but as far as we can establish, this was largely as a result of shipments from other EU member states which are allowed to move freely within the Community.

Ivory Trade

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Article 10 certificates her Department (a) granted and (b) refused for (i) ivory and (ii) items containing ivory in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Our records do not distinguish between sales of items of elephant ivory or items containing ivory, although both are included in the figures in the table. The number of certificates issued or refused were as follows:
	
		
			  Asian (Elephas maximus) African (Loxodonta africana) 
		
		
			 1997   
			 Total certificates issued 8 81 
			 Quantity of items sold 24 157 
			 Number refused 0 0 
			
			 1998   
			 Total certificates issued 6 76 
			 Quantity of items sold 6 1,172 
			 Number refused 0 0 
			
			 1999   
			 Total certificates issued 0 19 
			 Quantity of items sold 0 78 
			 Number refused 0 3 
			
			 2000   
			 Total certificates issued 0 63 
			 Quantity of items sold 0 443 
			 Number refused 0 2 
			
			 2001   
			 Total certificates issued 2 32 
			 Quantity of items sold 2 33 
			 Number refused 0 14 
			
			 2002   
			 Total certificates issued 13 44 
			 Quantity of items sold 13 50 
			 Number refused 0 0 
			
			 2003   
			 Total certificates issued 0 38 
			 Quantity of items sold 0 45 
			 Number refused 0 1

Landfill

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of disposal costs per tonne of contaminated soils to landfill after July; what assessment she has made of additional treatment facilities required by July; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: It is estimated that, from mid July, the requirements of the Landfill Directive could increase the disposal costs per tonne for contaminated soils to landfill by between 10 per cent. to 100 per cent. depending on the degree and type of contamination.
	The treatment and disposal facilities required will depend on the volume of contaminated soil arising which in turn will be affected by a number of factors which include:
	The classification of more contaminated soil as hazardous under the revised hazardous waste list.
	The expected increase in disposal costs will provide a greater incentive to minimise, recycle and re-use waste and shift the management of waste up the waste hierarchy.
	The greater incentive for on-site treatment, which can decrease the demand for landfill.
	The requirement in the Landfill Directive for all waste to be pre-treated before landfill —this can both increase and decrease the volume for disposal.
	Furthermore, the types of any additional facilities that will be required will be site-specific and based on a number of variables such as size of the site and type of contaminate within the soil. The Hazardous Waste Forum task force on treatment and disposal capacity is currently assessing all these interlinking factors, continues to monitor closely the provision of facilities, and will advise on the issues that need to be addressed so that all waste is subject to environmentally sound management and disposal. Overall the Government's policy is to reduce the UK's reliance on landfill, which, as well as its negative environmental impacts, makes little practical use of waste and is a missed opportunity to recover value from waste.

Landfill

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what grounds landfill sites can be closed.

Elliot Morley: Landfill sites can be closed in the following circumstances:
	(i) When the conditions specified in the landfill permit are satisfied (e.g. the site is full);
	(ii) When the Environment Agency approves the initiation of the closure procedures following a request from the operator; or
	(iii) By a reasoned decision of the Environment Agency to initiate closure procedures (e.g. because the requirements of the landfill permit are not being met).

Meat Sales

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) National Assembly for Wales about the promotion of sales of (i) beef and (ii) lamb; and what assessment she has made of the level of spending on promotion in (A) Scotland and (B) Wales.

Alun Michael: No specific discussions have been held nor assessments made. The promotion of beef and lamb in Scotland and Wales is a matter for their industries representative bodies who receive proportionate funding from the Meat and Livestock Commission levy.

National Waste Strategy

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has a national waste strategy.

Elliot Morley: Yes. The Government's national waste strategy for England and Wales was set out in the document "Waste Strategy 2000", published in May 2000.

Parliamentary Questions

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the employment of secondees from commercial organisations to draft parliamentary answers; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra's Ministers see secondments and interchange as a key means of complementing the skills and experience of the Civil Service, drawing in expertise from such fields as business, local government and the voluntary sector as well as other Government Departments. This is assisting Defra's commitment to play its part in developing a modern, flexible, outward looking Civil Service that works in partnership with all sectors of society. Interchange is seen as a key tool in meeting this commitment. Defra continues to promote and encourage the interchange of personnel between the Department and a range of other organisations.
	The term 'secondee' is used within the Civil Service in a more limited sense than the meaning used outside the Civil Service. In the Civil Service a secondee is a person who is 'borrowed' from an organisation outside the Civil Service for a period of between three months and three years (exceptionally five years), without affecting employment status. Great care is taken in setting up any secondment to ensure that conflicts of interest do not arise. During the secondment period the secondee would remain an employee of the parent organisation but would be expected to abide by the Defra staff handbook and the Official Secrets Act. At the end of the secondment the secondee would return to the parent organisation.
	The duties performed day to day are a matter for the secondee's managers and may include drafting answers to parliamentary questions.

Radioactive Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste.

Elliot Morley: The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has been set up, under the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme, to recommend the best option, or combination of options, for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity wastes. As the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" consultation document itself indicated, the Committee will be assessing long-term storage options alongside other long-term management options that are available. Both the public and stakeholder groups will be extensively involved in this assessment process.
	It will then be for UK Government and the Devolved Administrations to decide the UK's long-term management policy for this waste in the light of CoRWM's recommendations.

Radioactive Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of the reprocessing of radioactive material.

Elliot Morley: Decisions about whether to reprocess spent nuclear fuel depend on the commercial judgment of the operator concerned.
	The Department's responsibility is to ensure that where reprocessing takes place it is in accordance with appropriate environmental objectives, including the United Kingdom's regulatory requirements and international obligations.

Recycling

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what household recycling levels have been attained in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: The annual Municipal Waste Management Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics and Defra, shows the following household waste recycling rates for England:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1996–97 7.5 
			 1997–98 8.2 
			 1998–99 9 
			 1999–2000 10.3 
			 2000–01 11.2 
			 2001–02 12.4

Recycling

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether home composting is taken into account in the setting of recycling targets at (a) local and (b) national level.

Elliot Morley: Home composting activity is not measured as part of the local authority best value performance indicator (BVPI) for composting. Its contribution to recycling and composting rates is therefore excluded from statutory performance standards for local authorities and from the national targets for recycling and composting. This is because there is not yet a workable and auditable method of calculating the amount of waste diverted through home composting schemes, or one which properly reflects the local authority's contribution to the activity.
	The impact of home composting on reducing waste arisings is already reflected at a local level by BVPI 84, which measures kilograms of household waste collected per head of population. Local authorities are required to set their own local targets for BVPI 84 which has to be included in their Best Value Performance Plans. The Government have concluded a number of Local Public Service Agreements in which home composting activity contributes directly to the achievement of the local authority's target.
	Home composting will contribute to achievement of both national and local targets under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill.

Recycling

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to include home composting in recycling figures at (a) local and (b) national level.

Elliot Morley: The Government are working with expert bodies, including the Waste and Resources Action Programme, to develop a robust methodology to calculate the amount of waste diverted from the household waste stream through home composting schemes. If a workable and auditable methodology is found, the Government will then review whether and how home composting can be incorporated into future local and national recycling and composting figures.
	The impact of home composting on waste reduction is already reflected at local level by Best Value Performance Indicator 84, which measures kilograms of household waste collected per head of population. Home composting activity will also be reflected in local and national progress towards meeting targets under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill.

Recycling

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environmental Agency plans to audit all refrigerator recycling plants, with particular reference to those licensed to recover chlorofluorocarbons from the refridgeration circuit.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is auditing all the fridge destruction facilities. The audit will include an assessment of recovery of CFC from the refridgeration circuit.

Research and Development

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to whom her Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies there are in each region of England.

Alun Michael: The Defra spend on research and development is some £150 million annually. We fund about 250 contractors including our laboratory agencies, the institutes of the Research Councils, a range of universities, and private sector providers of research such as ADAS. There are approximately 1,500 research projects in our portfolio and details of these can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/science. It is not possible to provide details of precise staff numbers employed on Defra R and D contracts. These will vary over the lifetime of projects, and will often involve less than full-time inputs from a number of researchers or in some cases sub-contractors. The main laboratory agencies of the Defra are:
	the Central Science Laboratory—York
	the Veterinary Laboratories Agency—Weybridge
	the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science—Lowestoft, Burnham on Crouch and Weymouth

Sudden Oak Death

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the threat to British woodlands posed by the fungus phytophthora ramorum.

Ben Bradshaw: A Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for Phytophthora ramorum was first conducted in the UK by Forest Research in September 2000.
	The PRA has undergone a number of revisions and is currently under further review and will take account of the recent findings of the organism on ten trees of six species in Great Britain. Copies of the most recent revision were placed in the Library of the House on 13 February 2003 and updates have since been placed on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pra.htm.
	The Forestry Commission is currently undertaking a survey of around 1,000 woodland sites across Great Britain in order to help determine whether the disease is present in our woodland environment. This survey, which is due to be completed by April, will help us better determine the threat to Britain's trees.

Sudden Oak Death

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Department handles plants or trees affected with sudden oak death.

Ben Bradshaw: All ornamental shrubs found to be infected with "Phytophthora ramorum" are destroyed either by burning or deep burial.
	For infected trees there are two options: either the destruction of the whole tree by burning or deep burial, or the debarking and disinfection of the trunk and main branches which can then be removed and processed. The removed bark, all other branches and debris such as leaves and soil litter are similarly destroyed by burning or deep burial.

Sustainable Energy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to demonstrate to local authorities the potential benefits of developing sustainable energy policy.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2004
	In the Energy Efficiency White Paper published in February 2003 the Government set out its strategy to help local authorities take a more proactive role in the delivery of sustainable energy policy. This includes establishing a new Beacon Council theme on sustainable energy, promoting energy efficiency as an area to be considered for Public Service Agreements and reviewing guidance to Energy Conservation Authorities on complying with the requirements of the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA). The Government will publish in the spring an implementation plan for delivery of the energy efficiency policy commitments made in the White Paper.
	The Government funded Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust (EST) provide support to local authorities to develop sustainable energy policy. For example, through its Carbon Management initiative the Carbon Trust assists local authorities in developing long term, strategic carbon emissions reductions plans. It is also piloting an energy-financing scheme aimed at local authorities. The EST helps local authorities to deliver their Home Energy Conservation Act and other sustainable energy responsibilities through initiatives such as the Local Authority Support Programme, the Practical Help website and funding for the National and Regional HECA Fora Secretariats.

Sustainable Energy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department disseminates best practice in sustainable energy management programmes to local authorities.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2004
	The Department disseminates best practice in sustainable energy management programmes to local authorities through its funding of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust.
	The Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust have developed a range of programmes aimed at supporting local authorities sustainable energy activities.

Toxic Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the potential use of salt mine workings for toxic waste disposal.

Elliot Morley: The Government have set out a policy and planning framework, in Waste Strategy 2000 and Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 Planning and Waste Management, which is concerned with reducing the amount of waste produced and where waste is produced, for dealing with in a way that supports sustainable development. Proposals for waste management facilities should be developed and considered within that framework. The criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste are set out in the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) and the associated Council decision (2003/33/EC), including those applicable to underground waste disposal sites such as salt mine workings.

US Ships (Decommissioning)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answers of 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 739W, on Tees Estuary, whether ballast water has been removed or disposed of from the ships (a) in accordance with a detailed method statement and (b) without such a statement.

Elliot Morley: No ballast water has yet been removed or disposed of from the ships. No removal is permitted until the Environment Agency has approved a method statement. Able UK has not yet submitted a method statement to the Agency for its approval.

US Ships (Decommissioning)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to instruct that the four ghost ships moored in Hartlepool be returned to America.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 29 January 2004
	The US authorities accept that the four ships will have to return to the US, unless environmentally suitable and legally acceptable methods for their disposal have been identified. The immediate return of the vessels is not practicable.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has met representatives from the printer cartridge remanufacturing industry to discuss the scope of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Elliot Morley: I have not met any representatives from the printer cartridge remanufacturing industry to discuss the scope of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers in her Department have met (a) Lexmark and (b) Hewlett Packard to discuss the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and what the dates were of such meetings.

Elliot Morley: In October 2002, my right hon. Friend, the then Minister of State for Environment (Mr. Meacher), met with industry representatives to discuss the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. A representative of Hewlett Packard was present at the meeting.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Government's transposition of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (a) included only whole products and (b) did not include consumables.

Elliot Morley: The Government have not yet transposed the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive but is working to do so by the August 2004 deadline.
	The WEEE Directive applies to electrical and electronic equipment that falls into one of 10 indicative categories set out in an annex to the directive.
	The directive applies only to whole products because it makes producers financially responsible for the environmentally sound end of life management of their products. A very large number of producers are affected by this legislation as it is, and adding consumables to the scope of the directive would have significantly increased the number of producers obligated by the legislation, making the directive significantly harder, if not impossible to enforce, as well as more costly.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the implications for hazardous waste regulations arising from the bring-back requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Elliot Morley: The potential implications of the bring-back requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive on the control of hazardous waste are being assessed in the on-going review of the special waste regulations. These issues will be explained in the forthcoming consultation on replacement hazardous waste regulations.

Waste Implementation Programme

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings she has had with ministerial colleagues from other departments to ensure that the Waste Implementation Programme has a co-ordinated approach with waste-related programmes in other Departments.

Elliot Morley: The Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) is putting England on the path to more sustainable waste management with measures to slow the growth in the amount of waste, investment in recycling infrastructure and support for new alternative waste management technologies. This new programme was explicitly created to provide clear responsibilities and accountabilities, and a strong focus at the centre of government to drive forward implementation in specific areas. The initial direction and implementation arrangements for WIP were overseen by a ministerial group answering jointly to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
	Underpinning the programme are effective mechanisms for cross-government working. A Steering Committee, representing key interests engaged in waste management, has been established to drive forward the implementation of WIP workstreams. This group also provides strategic advice on the new programme, and reports direct to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Meetings are attended by representatives from several Government Departments. In addition, there are regular meetings with ODPM, DTI and HMT at official level.

Water/Sewerage Charges

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Ofwat and United Utilities about the decision to allow an increase in water and sewerage charges for the remaining year of the current price review period by more than the amount originally set by the regulator; and if she will review the safeguards in place to protect low income households.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Price limits for water companies are set or modified independently by the Director General of Water Services. The Director General and United Utilities have kept me informed of this interim price determination that revises price limits for the charging year beginning on 1 April 2004.
	I am considering the responses to the consultation on revisions to the Vulnerable Groups Regulations that provide protection to vulnerable metered households.

Wildlife Management

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will make representations to the European Commission for the inclusion of the management of wildlife in the criteria for the definition of legality in the European Commission's proposal for an action plan on European Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade proposal.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission's Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) includes proposals to prevent the import into the EU of illegally logged timber, through the voluntary licensing of timber exports from FLEGT partner countries. Under these voluntary agreements export permits would be granted only if the timber has been harvested in conformity with relevant national legislation.
	The Government's view is that it is for each producer state to define legality in reference to the national laws and regulations of that state and for them to decide if the management of wildlife should be included in such a definition. It would not be appropriate to make representations to the European Commission concerning the criteria for defining legality. We would however be willing to work with individual countries to address this as a criteria.

Wildlife Trade

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government is taking to tackle illegal wildlife trade on the internet.

Elliot Morley: We monitor the major internet sales sites, and take enforcement action when possible illegal sales of wildlife items are identified. This is one of the areas that I am asking the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit to focus on.

Wind Turbines

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason noise from wind turbines has been excluded from the study at Salford University into low frequency noise sponsored by her Department.

Alun Michael: The study being carried out by Salford University aims to provide a method for assessing low frequency noise. Salford University has been asked to identify a number of examples of different types of low frequency noise for detailed investigation to determine how assessment of such noises could be carried by Local Enforcement Practitioners. Salford University are due to report shortly on the examples recommended for detailed investigation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A-level Results

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of pupils in Northern Ireland achieved three grade As or above at A level in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998–99 9 
			 1999–2000 11 
			 2000–01 11 
			 2001–02 13 
			 2002–03 12

Academic Qualifications

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Northern Ireland pupils left school with no qualifications in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available. The percentage of Northern Ireland pupils leaving school with no qualifications in each of the previous five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			 2001–02 5.2 
			 2000–01 4.8 
			 1999–2000 3.6 
			 1998–99 2.7 
			 1997–98 3.1

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland have taken steps to manage asbestos by (a) undertaking a survey of all premises, (b) compiling a register indicating where asbestos is present and (c) preparing a plan for managing any associated risks.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all five Boards are currently undertaking surveys of all premises to determine the location and condition of material likely to contain asbestos. As these surveys are completed, the Boards are compiling registers that record the location and condition of asbestos. Four Boards have completed asbestos management plans, while the fifth Board (Belfast) intends to complete its plan by the end of February 2004.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) schools and (b) premises used by school children are assessed as properties with a (i) low, (ii) medium and (iii) high risk of asbestos having been used.

Jane Kennedy: Education and Library Boards are currently engaged in surveys of all schools and Board premises. The surveys should all be completed by May 2004 at which stage the information requested would be available.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to train maintenance staff in the (a) management, (b) surveying and (c) sampling of asbestos in Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all relevant maintenance staff have received training in the management, surveying and sampling of asbestos. The training has consisted of the following standard modules provided by the British Occupational Hygiene Society:
	(1) P402—Building Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos
	(2) P405—Managing Asbestos in Buildings.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work each Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland has carried out to inform schools in their area of procedures to safeguard children, staff and members of the public in relation to asbestos in schools and other board properties.

Jane Kennedy: All Education and Library Boards are organising awareness training for relevant staff at schools and other board properties aimed at providing them with sufficient knowledge to assist safely in asbestos management. This training is expected to be completed by all boards by May 2004. Asbestos management plans, which include details of the procedures to be followed in the management of asbestos, will be provided to schools and other board properties. Registers are also being drawn up as boards complete surveys of properties, which will include details of the location and condition of any asbestos. Individual properties will be provided with a copy of the register relevant to them.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many asbestos leaks occurred in buildings owned by each of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland in each year since records were kept; and where these leaks occurred.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that only the South Eastern Education and Library Board has recorded an asbestos leak. This was at the Board's Headquarters in 2002 when elevated fibre counts were detected as part of a routine monitoring programme during an asbestos removal project. In addition to this leak, the South Eastern Board has recorded five occasions involving disturbances of asbestos during the carrying out of maintenance work. These are:
	
		
			  Education centre 
		
		
			 1992 Braniel Primary School 
			 1999 Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre 
			 2000 Board Headquarters 
			 2001 Castlewellan Library 
			 2003 Ardnabannon Outdoor Education

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland have in place (a) an Asbestos Register and (b) an Asbestos Management Plan.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all Boards are currently compiling asbestos registers as they complete surveys of premises. Four Boards have completed Asbestos Management Plans and the fifth (Belfast) intends to have its plan completed by the end of February 2004.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that there is a recognised procedure in place to minimise the risk of exposure to asbestos in (a) schools and (b) premises used by schoolchildren in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Department of Education has issued guidance to all schools and education authorities on asbestos management and the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. The Department has provided funding to enable the Education and Library Boards to survey all schools in Northern Ireland, including controlled, maintained, Voluntary Grammar, Grant Maintained Integrated Schools and any other relevant Board premises, to determine the location and condition of asbestos. The Asbestos Management Plans, which are currently being finalised, will outline the processes and actions required to contain and manage any risk from asbestos, where it has been detected. Education and Library Boards have also provided professional training to technical staff and will be organising awareness training for all relevant non-technical staff.

Assets Recovery Agency

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions have been taken by the Assets Recovery Agency against (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Jane Kennedy: There are currently 17 cases under active investigation by the Agency in Northern Ireland with potential assets recoverable of over £7.5 million. These cases cover the whole range of organised crime among all groupings and areas across Northern Ireland.
	The Agency determines which cases should be adopted from those cases referred by law enforcement and other agencies. Its objective is that, some 80 per cent. of cases to be pursued this year, will focus on property obtained by, or in the hands of, paramilitaries and other organised criminals.

Asthma

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients (a) over and (b) under 45 years were admitted to hospital for asthma in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		Number of patients admitted to hospital during 2002–03 where the primary diagnosis was asthma
		
			 Age Number of admissions(17) 
		
		
			 Over 45 756 
			 Under 45 1,785 
			 All Ages 2,541 
		
	
	(17) Discharges and deaths are a proxy for admissions.
	Note:
	Figures include elective and emergency admissions.
	Source:
	Hospital Inpatients System

Asthma

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths from asthma there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: Mortality statistics for 2003 have not been fully collated and therefore the latest available data relates to the five-year period 1998 to 2002. The following table gives the number of deaths resulting from asthma 1 registered in Northern Ireland in each year between 1998 and 2002.
	1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 493 (1998–2000) and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes J45 or 146(2001–2002).
	
		Number of registered deaths due to asthma by year in Northern Ireland (1998–2002)
		
			  Deaths 
		
		
			 1998 44 
			 1999 38 
			 2000 33 
			 2001 38 
			 2002 36

Asthma

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many asthma sufferers in the Province had their condition reviewed at least once in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: This information is not collected centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Barnett Formula

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the operation of the Barnett Formula as regards Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Barnett formula has worked well over the years and continues to deliver high levels of public spending and investment to the people of Northern Ireland. I do not therefore propose to raise this matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Breast Cancer

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest survival rate for breast cancer is in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The most recent estimate of the five-year relative survival rate for female breast cancer patients, based on persons diagnosed in 1993–96, is 78 per cent.
	The one-year relative survival rate, based on persons diagnosed in 1993–96, is 92 per cent.

Cervical Screening

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for introducing human papilloma virus testing for screening against cervical cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) commissioned a pilot scheme to examine the role of human papilloma virus testing in cervical screening. The pilot ran for two years and an evaluation report to the NSC is expected in the near future. I will await the advice and recommendations of the NSC before making any decision about this matter.

Cervical Screening

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the liquid-based cytology cervical screening technique will be introduced within the NHS in Northern Ireland at the same time as in the rest of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The other home countries are now in the process of rolling out the liquid based cytology technique. This is expected to take up to five years to complete. My Department has set up a regional group to advise, as soon as possible, on the introduction of this technology to N. Ireland. On receipt of the advice of this group the Department will be in a position to consider how best to take this forward and will seek then to identify funding. Roll-out here should be well within five years.

Chiropody

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what chiropody service is available within the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust Area, with particular reference to Ards and Bangor Community Hospitals.

Angela Smith: Chiropody services are provided at Ards and Bangor Community Hospitals and in nine other health facilities in the North Down and Ards area. A service is also provided to 40 nursing and residential homes, to training and resource centres, in GP based diabetic clinics and to the homes of patients who are housebound. An additional two podiatrists were recruited in January 2004.
	Priority in the provision of services is given to patients whose medical conditions place feet and legs at risk of developing complications.

Christian Education Movement

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding will be made available for the Christian Education Movement for 2004–07; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Christian Education Movement has applied to the Department of Education for funding for the period April 2004—March 2007 under the Department's Community Relations Core Funding Scheme. All applications for such funding are currently under consideration and decisions will be announced in the near future.

Cross-community Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils attend cross-community schools.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of pupils attending integrated (i.e. cross-community) schools are as follows:
	
		
			  Integrated enrolment 
		
		
			 Nursery schools 0 
			 Primary schools 6,417 
			 Post-primary schools 10,077 
			 Total 16,494

Decommissioning

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which paramilitary organisations are formally engaged with the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning.

Jane Kennedy: The Provisional IRA remains in formal contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

Decommissioning

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce legislation requiring full transparency in the decommissioning process.

Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to introduce legislation requiring full transparency. The scheme and Regulations allow for confidentiality at the request of those participating. Any loss of confidentiality would make it less likely that acts of decommissioning would take place.

Decommissioning

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total amount of arms and ammunition so far decommissioned is under the supervision of the International Independent Decommissioning Commission.

Jane Kennedy: To date there have been four acts of decommissioning.
	In 1998 the LVF carried out an act of decommissioning and the items were listed. PIRA has carried out three acts of decommissioning—2001, 2002 and 2003. The IICD made an inventory of the arms concerned, which will be provided to the two governments when its task is completed.
	The Prime Minister has stated clearly that all arms must be put beyond use through the IICD.

Demography

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest rate of population change is in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Between mid-year 2001 and mid-year 2002 the estimated population of Northern Ireland increased by 0.43 per cent., from 1,689,300 to 1,696,600 people. This rate of population increase is in line with longer-term trends; on average over the decade from 1992 to 2002 the estimated population increased by 0.44 per cent. annually.

Demography

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of future population trends in Northern Ireland; and how he expects public services in Northern Ireland to adapt to these trends.

Ian Pearson: In line with the rest of the United Kingdom, the Government Actuary's Department published population projections for Northern Ireland on 18 December 2003. The population of Northern Ireland is projected to increase overall by 5 per cent. from a base of 1.697 million in 2002 to 1.788 million in 2017. Within this figure, the number of children aged under 16 is projected to decrease by 12 per cent., the population aged 16–64 is projected to increase by 6 per cent., and the population aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 32 per cent.
	Northern Ireland's demographic trends are a key factor determining policy development and resource allocation. Although demographic changes have implications for all departments those most affected are the Department of Education and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
	The Department of Education takes into account future population trends when deciding how many teachers will be needed. Similarly, population trends are recognised by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when drawing up Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland: a statistical profile and will inform the Regional Health Strategy currently in development.

Dental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure socially disadvantaged young people are receiving appropriate dental care.

Angela Smith: Children living in the greatest deprivation have four times more tooth decay than the most affluent. My Department's Investing for Health Strategy sets a target to increase the levels of 5-year-old children with no dental decay to 55 per cent. and to reduce the gap between the best and worse decayed/missing/filled scores by 20 per cent. by 2010.
	My Department's policy is to prevent oral disease. In the absence of fluoridation of water supplies, Health and Social Services Boards are taking forward and monitoring other methods of oral disease prevention. These include the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste to young children in socially deprived areas, schemes to encourage registration from birth with a dentist and sealing permanent teeth with a protective resin to prevent decay. There are also schemes to promote the use of sugar free medicines and offer dietary advice to young mothers.

Depression

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the (a) financial cost of treating depression in Northern Ireland and (b) the cost to the economy in terms of lost working hours in 2003.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Disabled People (Workplace Participation)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many projects in Northern Ireland received funding to promote participation by disabled people in the workplace in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: From the information available the number of projects that received funding from Northern Ireland Government Departments to promote participation by disabled people in the workplace in each year since 1997 is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Number of Projects 
		
		
			 1997–98 62 
			 1998–99 67 
			 1999–2000 71 
			 2000–01 68 
			 2001–02 42 
			 2002–03 58 
			 2003–04 50 
		
	
	The answer contains information on projects that provide a range of workplace participation including paid employment (full-time and part-time), voluntary work and work placements. The answer does not take account of disabled people working in Government Departments.

Disabled Parking

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many orange disabled parking badges have been issued in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Economic Growth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest level of economic growth is in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Figures for headline gross value added (GVA) provided by National Statistics estimate Northern Ireland growth of 3.8 per cent. in 2001.
	Employment information is often used as a proxy for economic growth as more up to date figures are available. In September 2003, there were an estimated 669,470 (seasonally adjusted) employee jobs in Northern Ireland. This represents an increase of 0.8 per cent. since September 2002 (compared with a UK decline of 0.01 per cent.) and an increase of 8.4 per cent. (51,790 people) over five years, almost twice as fast as the UK average growth rate of 4.3 per cent.

Football

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the money from the Soccer Strategy will be made available to the Irish Football Association.

Angela Smith: Money for the Soccer Strategy can be released to the Irish Football Association once the department is satisfied that the necessary Governance and Accountability arrangements have been agreed.

Football

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Football Association; and when he next plans to do so.

Angela Smith: There are on-going meetings with the Irish Football Association (IFA) at official level within the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on a number of issues. The last of these took place on 12 February 2004. In addition, a DCAL working level group, which includes the Sports Council and IFA officials, meets to agree the details for taking forward the Soccer Strategy initiative. This group last met on 7 November 2003. The group will meet again in the very near future. I have also indicated my willingness to meet with the IFA after that meeting.

Football

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to help improve Windsor Park.

Angela Smith: The future of Windsor Park is primarily a matter for the owners, Linfield Football Club, and the Irish Football Association, who use Windsor Park for Northern Ireland's home international fixtures under an agreement with Linfield FC. Both are considering their future facility needs as are the other main spectator sports and to assist them I have asked the Strategic Investment Board to commission the preparation of a business plan which will test the viability of the concept of a new purpose built multi-sport stadium. Discussions on Windsor Park must await the outcome of this work.

Football

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to help pay for floodlight improvements at Windsor Park.

Angela Smith: Windsor Park is owned by Linfield Football Club and is used by the Irish Football Association as the venue for Northern Ireland's home international fixtures. To date I have not had any specific requests for funding for floodlighting improvements at Windsor Park. Any proposals for such improvements should first be discussed with the Sports Council, which has responsibility for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funds.

Higher Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to offer additional financial support to Northern Irish higher education students to take into account the costs of travelling to universities in Great Britain.

Jane Kennedy: The student loan, which is available to Northern Irish students attending higher education institutions in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, is intended to meet students' living costs such as accommodation, food and travel. Northern Ireland students who study at institutions in Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland, or at institutions in Northern Ireland which are not within reasonable travelling distance of the parental home are currently able to access a higher rate of student loan than those students living in the parental home.
	The Department has no plans to offer additional financial support to Northern Irish higher education students travelling to universities in Great Britain.

Higher Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meetings he has held with (a) the Secretary of State for Education and (b) representatives from universities to discuss the implications of the Higher Education Bill for Northern Ireland's universities and students; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: While the Higher Education Bill, does not, in the main apply to Northern Ireland, it has significant implications in view of the strong links between the HE Sectors and the level of student flows between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
	Since the publication of the White Paper, I have had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential implications of the proposals in the Bill for Northern Ireland, and I am fully aware of the respective views of the two universities.
	It is my intention to bring forward proposals soon for the way forward in Northern Ireland, taking into account discussions with local stakeholders, including the universities and the student representative body the NUS/USI, and advice from the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC).

Home Economics

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from home economics teachers about the proposal to teach this subject as a non-examinable component of the curriculum at Key Stage Three; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: As part of the consultation process on the review of the curriculum, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment received representations from Home Economics teachers as to the form that provision for this subject should take. The Council's proposals would make aspects of Home Economics a statutory entitlement for all pupils in Key Stage 3. I am currently considering the Council's proposals for the Key Stage 3 curriculum as a whole. No decisions have yet been taken.

Inward Investment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much inward investment Northern Ireland has attracted since the start of the peace process.

Ian Pearson: Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland has attracted £242 million of New Inward Investment. In addition, during the same period expansions by externally owned companies totalled £936 million.

Learning Disabilities

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in improving education opportunities for those aged 16 to 19 years who have moderate learning disabilities.

Jane Kennedy: Through its Careers Service and enhanced funding for the Further Education sector, the Department for Employment and Learning provides a range of support services aimed at improving the provision for all students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
	In addition, an Inter Departmental Working Group is examining the transition of all young people with statements of special educational needs to adult life. The group consists of representatives from the Departments of Education, Employment and Learning, and Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The group has consulted widely and plans to produce an Action Plan in Spring 2004.

Maghaberry Prison

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the prison authorities at Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry, negotiate with the leaders of the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) UDA and (c) UVF on conditions within the prison.

Jane Kennedy: The prison authorities do not negotiate with paramilitary leaders on conditions within the prison. It is important that control of the prison regime remains with the prison authorities.

Maghaberry Prison

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of damage by prisoners to prison property and equipment in each of the last 12 months at Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry.

Jane Kennedy: The cost of damage by prisoners to prison property and equipment in each of the last 12 months at Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry was as follows:
	
		
			 Month Total (£) 
		
		
			 February 2003 951 
			 March 5,644 
			 April 4,217 
			 May 204 
			 June 1,516 
			 July 15,889 
			 August 41,987 
			 September 6,906 
			 October 32,944 
			 November 15,481 
			 December 18,791 
			 January 2004 (18)115,580 
		
	
	(18) A disturbance occurred in Bann House on 14 January 2004 resulting in damage estimated at £100,000. Repair work has commenced but invoices for the actual cost of repairs have not yet been received.

Maghaberry Prison

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoner officers, and what percentage of total staff, have been on sick leave in each of the last 12 months at Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			 Month Number of staff absent sick Staff in post Percentage of staff in post absent sick 
		
		
			 February 2003 113 842 13.42 
			 March 2003 97 842 11.52 
			 April 2003 91 841 10.82 
			 May 2003 92 837 10.99 
			 June 2003 90 836 10.77 
			 July 2003 101 831 12.16 
			 August 2003 115 828 13.89 
			 September 2003 100 829 12.06 
			 October 2003 99 825 12.00 
			 November 2003 97 823 11.79 
			 December 2003 102 821 12.42 
			 January 2004 87 820 10.61

Manufacturing Industry

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on removing rate relief on manufacturing industries.

Ian Pearson: The policy rationale for retaining industrial derating in Northern Ireland no longer exists. This view is supported by leading business and economic commentators and by the outcomes of various studies and an extensive consultation exercise in 2002. An assessment of the impact of removal on manufacturers concluded that any increase in costs would be limited and the impact significantly reduced by phasing it out in the manner announced in April 2003. The phase out period will begin on 1 April 2005 and end on 1 April 2011. This means that manufacturers will have been given eight years to adjust and plan for paying full rates which is longer than the timeframe proposed by the former DFP and DETI Assembly Committees. They will have to pay only 15 per cent. of their full rates liability in 2005–06. This percentage will rise but on a very gradual basis over the next six years. This is a sensible, modernising reform measure that will bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. There are other more effective ways of supporting businesses than retaining a blanket exemption for which there is no supporting rationale. Proposals for a hardship rate relief scheme for all businesses are being examined and will be published after consultation with Councils and business organisations.

Manufacturing Industry

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much revenue he estimates will be generated by the removal of rate relief on manufacturing industries.

Ian Pearson: The estimated long-term yield from the rating of the manufacturing sector is around £55 million per year. This allows for possible valuation reductions as a result of appeals and is based on around 5,100 properties currently in the Valuation List becoming liable to full rates in 2011. Applying the 15 per cent. rate liability applicable in the first year (2005–06), the yield in that year is expected to be around £8 million. This additional revenue will be invested through the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) to help fund a significant programme of major infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland over the next five years. Projects contained within the Strategic Investment Programme and totalling some £2.7 billion in value have already been announced. Investment in our public service infrastructure is essential for sustained economic growth and development. This scale of planned investment will significantly enhance Northern Ireland's prospects for long-term economic prosperity and future business success. The retention of industrial derating will not achieve these outcomes.

Manufacturing Industry

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry and its agencies to ensure Northern Ireland's manufacturing industries are not disadvantaged by the enlargement of the European Union, with particular reference to the accession of low-wage economies in Eastern Europe.

Ian Pearson: Invest NI is working with companies in the manufacturing and internationally-traded services sectors to help them increase their competitiveness in home and international markets. Early results of research commissioned into the impact of EU enlargement on the NI economy, indicate that the overall impact is likely to be relatively limited. They also suggest that enlargement will offer opportunities, particularly for sectors with the greatest prospects for high value-added growth.
	Around 60 Northern Ireland companies are already doing business valued at approximately £100 million in the Accession States. Invest NI has been active in organising a number of trade-related activities, targeted at certain Accession States.

Northern Ireland Assembly Members

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the ratio of Northern Ireland population to Northern Ireland Assembly members is.

Ian Pearson: There are 108 elected members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the estimated population of Northern Ireland at mid-year 2002 is 1,696,600 people. This gives a ratio of one Assembly member per 15,710 population.

Nurses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is a maximum age for nurses within the NHS in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: There is no compulsory retirement age for nurses, although local employers may have their own policy regarding retirement age.
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) does not place upper age limits in relation to fitness to practice and registration.
	The NMC is currently consulting on a proposal that as from 1 April 2004 it will require registrants to make a declaration in relation to good health and good character as part of their application for renewal of the periodic three year renewal of registration.

Nursing Vacancies

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) hospital and (b) community nursing vacancies there are within North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust.

Angela Smith: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		Number of hospital and community nursing vacancies (including long-term vacancies) within North and West Belfast HSS Trust as at 30September 2003
		
			 Headcount WTE(19) 
		
		
			 Hospital nursing vacancies  
			 0 0.00 
			 Community nursing vacancies  
			 9 8.43 
		
	
	(19) Whole Time Equivalent
	
		Number of long-term (vacant more than three months) hospital and community nursing vacancies within North and West Belfast HSS Trust as at 30September 2003
		
			 Headcount WTE(20) 
		
		
			 Hospital nursing vacancies 
			 0 0.00 
			 Community nursing vacancies 
			 3 2.04 
		
	
	(20) Whole Time Equivalent

Obesity

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating obesity in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: By extrapolating from figures in a National Audit Office report relating to England and Wales, it has been estimated that obesity may cost the HPSS £15 million-£20 million a year.

Obesity

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to combat increases in obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Action to tackle obesity is being taken forward through programmes to promote a healthy diet such as the "Fresh Fruit in Schools" initiative and also through a range of initiatives to promote physical activity, including the "Get a life, get active" campaign.
	Revised strategies and action plans on food and nutrition and physical activity are currently being developed by inter-sectoral working groups. Both documents will be issued for consultation later in the year. In addition, a task force to address the specific issue of childhood obesity is being established under the auspices of the Ministerial Group on Public Health, which I chair.

Orthopaedic Surgeons

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a protected elective centre devoted solely to orthopaedic surgery.

Angela Smith: Musgrave Park Hospital, which is part of Green Park Health and Social Services Trust, serves as a protected elective centre for orthopaedic surgery and has recently been expanded by the building of two new modular theatres.

Orthopaedic Surgeons

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultant orthopaedic surgeons there are in the Province; and for how many weekly NHS sessions each is employed.

Angela Smith: Number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons employed in the Province as at 31 December 2003 and the number of weekly NHS sessions they are employed for.
	
		
			 HSS Trust Count WTE Number of weekly NHS sessions employed for 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 6 5.91 5 work 11 NHS sessions per week1 works 10 NHS sessions per week 
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 17 15.15 1 works 8.5 NHS sessions per week7 work 10 NHS sessions per week8 work 11 NHS sessions per week1 works as and when required 
			 Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust (21)Not available 8.09 Total of 89 NHS sessions worked by consultants per week(22) 
			 Ulster Comm. and Hosp. HSS Trust 6 4.64 1 works 2 NHS sessions per week1 works 2.5 NHS sessions per week1 works 3 NHS sessions per week1 works 4 NHS sessions per week2 work 5 NHS sessions per week 
			 Total Not available 33.79 Total of 342 NHS sessions worked per week by consultant orthopaedic surgeons 
		
	
	(21) Headcount figure for number of consultant orthopaedic consultants working in Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust was not available.
	(22) It was not possible to breakdown the number of NHS sessions worked by consultant orthopaedic consultants in Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust.

Osteoporosis

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to increase the availability of the osteoporosis drug Evista in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the treatment of osteoporosis in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Evista (generic name Raloxifene) is one of a number of interventions used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Raloxifene is available to patients on health service prescription in Northern Ireland.
	The choice of any intervention in the treatment of osteoporosis is a clinical one taken in consultation with the patient and based upon the best evidence available. Key factors include the nature and stage of disease progression, the risk and benefits of treatment, the patient age and underlying co-morbidities.
	Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (CREST) Guidelines on the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis were issued to Health Service professionals in Northern Ireland in 2001. The guidelines identify evidence-based strategies for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, including population approaches to promote smoking avoidance, regular exercise and an adequate diet including calcium and Vitamin D. In addition, the guidelines promote selective case finding approaches to the identification and treatment of those at risk of osteoporosis as well as those with established disease.

Pension Credit

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pensioner households in Northern Ireland are in receipt of pension credit; and what steps he is taking to increase take-up.

John Spellar: There are currently 82,000 households receiving pension credit. Between April 2003 and October 2004 the Social Security Agency will have written to every pensioner household where they are not already receiving pension credit to advise them about the new pension credit.
	To maximise the benefit take-up, there is also a publicity campaign in local and national newspapers and also on television. In addition to this the Social Security Agency has also appointed a Pension Adviser to each of its office areas to actively promote the take up of pension credit and other benefits.

Pension Credit

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 720W, on pension credit, by what date he expects the current backlog of pension credit applications to be cleared; and how long he estimates it will take to process a new application for a pension credit.

John Spellar: A recovery plan is being put in place and the situation is being addressed as a matter of urgency. Clearing the backlogs and improving the unsatisfactory standards of service to pensioners is the Social Security Agency's top priority.
	It is estimated that it will take on average of 50 days to process a new application for pension credit.

Personal Details

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) prison officers, (b) police officers, (c) political representatives and (d) others have been informed since October 2002 that their personal details were held by the Provisional IRA.

Jane Kennedy: Records researched by PSNI would indicate that since October 2002 some 2,841 persons have been informed that their details may be in the possession of the Provisional IRA. The breakdown is as follows:
	(a) Prison officers: 1,427
	(b) Police officers: 84
	(c) Political representatives: 40
	(d) Other: 1,340
	Please note that notification is handled at regional level and therefore these figures may be subject to slight adjustment.

Police Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Catholics have joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland since its creation.

Jane Kennedy: I am advised that as at 1 February of this year, 544 Catholics had been appointed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland as recruits since its creation.

Police Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many successful applicants to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland are awaiting training.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently in the process of appointing candidates from its fifth recruitment campaign, which was launched in March 2003. Thirty nine candidates have been appointed and have commenced training. There are currently 861 qualified candidates from the fifth competition, although some applicants are still in the process of going through security vetting and this number may increase.
	Up to around 270 recruits would be appointed in a six month period.

Police Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received for recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the recruitment campaigns held in 2003.

Jane Kennedy: I am advised that competition 5, which was launched in March 2003, attracted 6,044 applications; competition 6, which was launched in September 2003, attracted 5,419 applications.

Police Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received from (a) Protestants, (b) Roman Catholics and (c) others in each recruitment campaign for the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2003.

Jane Kennedy: Of the 6,044 applications received for competition 5, launched in March 2003, 3,747 were of a perceived Protestant background, 2,194 were of a perceived Catholic background and 103 were not determined.
	Of the 5,419 applications received for competition 6, launched in September 2003, 3,406 were of a perceived Protestant background, 1,909 were of a perceived Catholic background and 104 were not determined.

Police Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Protestants, (b) Roman Catholics and (c) others were successful in entering the merit pool for each of the campaigns for recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2003; and how many applicants in each category were subsequently offered a place on the training course following completion of each recruitment campaign.

Jane Kennedy: 1,096 qualified candidates formed the pool for competition 5. Of this number, 778 were of a perceived Protestant background, 307 were of perceived Catholic background and 11 were not determined.
	Appointments from competition 5 started in January 2004. So far, 83 qualified candidates have been appointed as police trainees. 45 of these appointments were of perceived Protestant background, 38 were of perceived Catholic background and none were classified as not determined.
	The pool of qualified candidates for competition 6 will not be formed until April.

Police Service

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost to date is of implementing the Patten Report on policing in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to provide the precise total cost to date of implementing the Patten Report on policing in Northern Ireland. The costs associated with the police early retirement/severance scheme and implementation of specific projects related to some of the individual recommendations from 1 April 2000 to December 2003 amount to some £197 million. Moreover there would have been other costs, which cannot be exactly identified, incurred by PSNI from its grant in support of the implementation of Patten.

Police Service

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers of the full-time police reserve have been (a) killed and (b) injured (i) on duty and (ii) off duty in each year since its formation.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available in the format requested. The following tables set out the statistic available.
	
		Full-time reserve officers who were killed or died on duty
		
			  Reason 
			  Death accident gun shot Death by terrorist Death non-terrorist Death traffic accident Grand total 
		
		
			 1975 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1976 0 3 0 0 3 
			 1977 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1978 0 1 0 0 1 
			 1979 0 1 0 0 1 
			 1981 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1982 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1983 0 5 0 0 5 
			 1984 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1985 0 7 0 0 7 
			 1986 0 2 0 1 3 
			 1987 1 1 0 0 2 
			 1988 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1989 0 1 0 2 3 
			 1990 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1992 0 1 0 0 1 
			 1993 0 2 0 0 2 
			 1994 0 0 0 1 1 
			 1997 0 1 0 0 1 
			 2000 0 0 1 0 1 
			 2003 0 0 0 1 1 
		
	
	
		Full-time reserve officers who were killed or died off duty
		
			  Reason 
			  Death accident gun shot Death accident Death by terrorist Death non-terrorist Death traffic accident Total 
		
		
			 1976 1 0 1 0 0 2 
			 1978 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 1979 0 0 1 0 1 2 
			 1980 0 1 1 0 0 2 
			 1981 0 0 1 0 1 2 
			 1986 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 1987 1 0 2 0 0 3 
			 1988 0 0 0 1 5 6 
			 1989 1 0 1 0 1 3 
			 1990 1 1 2 0 0 4 
			 1993 0 0 1 0 2 3 
			 1994 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 1995 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 1999 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 2000 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 2003 0 0 0 0 1 1 
		
	
	Note:
	If a year is not listed it is because no officer was killed or died in that particular year
	
		Full-time reserve officers injured on duty
		
			  Number injured on duty 
		
		
			 1986 3 
			 1987 3 
			 1988 11 
			 1989 7 
			 1990 76 
			 1991 361 
			 1992 401 
			 1993 426 
			 1994 344 
			 1995 474 
			 1996 509 
			 1997 529 
			 1998 570 
			 1999 616 
			 2000 609 
			 2001 640 
			 2002 455 
			 2003 221 
			 Total 6,255 
		
	
	It should be noted that records were computerised in the late 1980's and the PSNI can only stand over the figures from 1991.

Post-primary Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) data and (b) methodology were used to produce the statistical tables which appear in the Costello Report.

Jane Kennedy: The information in the statistical tables in the Costello Report was drawn from a variety of sources including the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the Department of Education, the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment, and the Programme for International Student Assessment (OECD).

Provisional IRA/Sinn Fein

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 470W, in what ways the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein are inextricably linked; and on what evidence he judges that they are so linked.

Jane Kennedy: As I made clear to the hon. Member for South Antrim (David Burnside), the Government do not comment on intelligence matters.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Ian Pearson: Information on expenditure by NIO is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure by the Recruitment Service on advertising vacant posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2001 0.5 
			 2002 0.5 
			 2003 0.5 
		
	
	Information broken down by publication is not held but most recruitment advertising is placed in the Belfast Telegraph, News Letter and Irish News.

Regeneration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to regenerate under-populated residential areas.

John Spellar: There a number of policies, both specific and general, designed to help regenerate under populated residential areas.
	The Northern Ireland Housing Executive actively seeks to revitalise areas that have experienced population loss and which may also suffer from unfit or vacant housing stock by the use of statutory powers to designate Redevelopment Areas and Urban Regeneration Areas, together with programmes of Renovation Grant activity. The NI Housing Executive is also currently engaged in developing a range of strategies and programmes which seek to facilitate regeneration and sustainable communities such as:
	Empty Homes Strategy.
	The Rural Strategy.
	Estate Renewal, Neighbourhood Renewal and Community Development Strategies.
	Living over the shop and town centre living.
	Arterial Routes Studies.
	Additionally, the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland has the objective of creating sustainable communities and regenerating urban areas. It requires that 60 per cent. of future new build housing be sited within the existing urban footprint. The NI Housing Executive contributes to the Policy Planning Strategy 12 document in respect of Housing Need Assessments that are to be completed as part of each Development Plan. These highlight the housing needs required to achieve sustainable and affordable housing within settlements across Northern Ireland.
	In addition, while not specifically targeting under-populated areas, the Department for Social Development's tools for regeneration clearly impact on such areas, and in particular, Northern Ireland's most disadvantaged communities. The Department's wide range of strategies and programmes such as the Urban Development Programme, Urban Development Grant, Environmental Improvement Schemes, and the recently launched Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, aim to revitalise areas of slower growth, promote social cohesion, and help build more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods.

Regional Rates

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage increases to the regional rate in Northern Ireland were in each of the past five years.

Ian Pearson: The percentage increases to the regional rate in Northern Ireland for the past five years is as follows.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Non-domestic Domestic 
		
		
			 1998–99 3.2 5.9 
			 1999–2000 5.5 8 
			 2000–01 4.6 8 
			 2001–02 3.3 7 
			 2002–03 3.3 7

Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operations were performed at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children by surgeons from (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) Great Britain in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sports Funding

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been provided from (a) central Government funds, (b) European funds and (c) other public funds to (i) football, (ii) rugby, (iii) hockey, (iv) cricket and (v) Gaelic games in Northern Ireland in each financial year since 2000–01.

Angela Smith: Funding provided from (a) central Government funds, (b) European funds and (c) other public funds to (i) football, (ii) rugby, (iii) hockey, (iv) cricket and (v) Gaelic games in each financial year from 2000–01 is as follows:
	
		(a) Central Government Funds -- £
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total  
		
		
			 Football 1,264,009 (23)951,803 (23)981,188 3,197,000 
			 Rugby 152,843 157,551 92,536 402,930 
			 Hockey 27,464 61,225 54,902 143,591 
			 Cricket 20,000 22,000 26,330 68,330 
			 Gaelic games 652,085 381,333 557,676 1,591,094 
			 Totals 2,116,401 1,573,912 1,712,632 5,402,945 
		
	
	(23) These figures include £100,000 and £500,000 allocated to Soccer from the Football Development Centre Programme for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	(b) European Funds
	The following table provides information on European Funds administrated by DFP and DARD to football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games for each financial year from 2000–01.
	
		£
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total  
		
		
			 Football 915 0 10,800 11,715 
			 Rugby 0 939 0 939 
			 Hockey 0 0 0 — 
			 Cricket 4,067 0 0 4,067 
			 Gaelic games 18,557 1,885 5,594 26,036 
			 Totals 23,539 2,824 16,394 42,757 
		
	
	DFP has also provided European funding (Peace II) to numerous sports which include, football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games. This funding was for projects that included more than one of the above sports, the details are as follows.
	
		
			  Numerous sports (£) 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 3,906 
			 Total 3,906 
		
	
	(c) Other Public Funds
	The following table details the amount of Sports Lottery funding that has been allocated to football, rugby, hockey, cricket and Gaelic games for financial years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.
	
		£
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total  
		
		
			 Football 942,492 642,710 609,131 2,194,333 
			 Rugby 312,053 144,000 76,860 532,913 
			 Hockey 47,625 199,850 68,800 316,275 
			 Cricket 282,500 57,202 16,000 355,702 
			 Gaelic games 1,694,182 1,025,420 689,962 3,409,564 
			 Totals 3,278,852 2,069,182 1,460,753 6,808,787

Special Educational Needs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children are registered as having special needs in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Waiting Lists/Times

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a patient referred on 9 February by his or her family doctor can expect to have (a) an initial out-patient assessment and (b) routine elective surgery in orthopaedics.

Angela Smith: This information is not available in the form requested.
	It should be noted, that over 80 per cent. of in-patients for trauma and orthopaedics and 90 per cent. of out-patients are seen in less than 12 months.

Waiting Lists/Times

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been waiting for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) one to two years, (d) two to three years and (e) more than three years to have an (i) in-patient admission and (ii) initial out-patient assessment in orthopaedic surgery.

Angela Smith: Waiting list statistics are submitted to the Department at specialty level. The information in this answer relates to people waiting in the trauma and orthopaedics specialty at 30 September 2003 (the most recent information available). Waiting list statistics are collected in three-month time bands for all patients waiting up to 24 months. Patients waiting 24 months or more are grouped together within one category therefore patients waiting two to three years and more than three years cannot be separately identified.
	
		
			  Number awaiting in-patient admission Number awaiting initial out-patient assessment 
		
		
			 <6 months 2,748 8,871 
			 6–12 months 1,780 3,750 
			 1–2 Years 1,121 3,646 
			 2+ years 604 3,352 
		
	
	Source:
	CH1 and CH3

Waiting Lists/Times

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle waiting lists in orthopaedic surgery; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: A number of initiatives are being taken to reduce the length of time people are waiting for orthopaedic surgery. These include:
	Increasing the number of trainees in this specialty.
	A review of acute trauma services, which is underway at present. This review is expected to make recommendations for improvements in the delivery of trauma services and will provide strategic direction in the future development of the orthopaedic/fracture service.
	The building of two new modular theatres for Musgrave Park Hospital. This has increased theatre capacity, which will improve fracture services, stabilise and reduce waiting lists and facilitate the mix of elective, trauma and out-patient work of consultant orthopaedic surgeons.
	The appointment earlier this year at Green Park Health and Social Services Trust of a waiting list manager and the establishment of a centralised waiting list team.
	The increase in waiting times in recent years reflects a general rise in demand on the orthopaedic service and there is a considerable commitment and determination to deal with it.

Wayleave Compensation

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government policy is in relation to wayleave compensation payable to landowners affected by measures to facilitate the provision of public services; and what recent changes there have been relating to payments for wayleaves.

Ian Pearson: The primary legislation governing compensation for the acquisition of pipeline wayleaves in Northern Ireland is The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973. The rules for assessing any compensation payable under this Order are contained in the Land Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1982. The principal thrust of this legislation and the associated case law decisions has been to ensure that compensation is based on the actual loss in every case.
	The legal basis of compensation has therefore not changed but each individual case must be looked at on its merits with the aim of establishing what the actual loss is.
	The Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) act on behalf of Water Service in the assessment of wayleave compensation. In most cases the compensation amount is agreed between VLA and the landowner or his agent. If agreement is not possible the landowner then has the option of referring the matter to the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

CAFCASS

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are undertaken by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to ensure that full medical and psychiatric reports of a parent who is not a UK citizen are examined when making their report.

Margaret Hodge: CAFCASS officers are able to make inquiries of health and psychiatric services if it is deemed necessary to take such information into account to ensure the best interests of the child are met when preparing their reports.
	If the circumstances require, CAFCASS officers are able to seek a direction from the Court to request relevant information. They are also able to contact International Social Service, or the relevant consulate to obtain necessary documents from abroad.

CAFCASS

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what procedures are followed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in cases where one parent is a non-UK resident.

Margaret Hodge: The role of CAFCASS is professionally and impartially to inquire into individual cases, in order to assist the court in reaching decisions that are in the best interests of the children who are the subject of court proceedings.
	The same procedures are followed by CAFCASS in cases where one parent may be a non-UK resident. In addition to collecting and assessing documentation for each case, CAFCASS officers are able to contact International Social Service, or the appropriate consulate, to obtain relevant documentary information from abroad.

Adoption and Children Act

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to implement the provisions of the Adoption and Children Act 2002; and if he will publish a timetable for implementation.

Margaret Hodge: The Government have already implemented the following key provisions of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (the Act):
	1 June 2003: restrictions on adoptions from overseas;
	31 October 2003: adoption support for adoptive families; and
	1 December 2003: parental responsibility for unmarried fathers who jointly register the birth of their child with the mother.
	The first phase of the independent review mechanism, which will cover prospective adopters whose adoption agency is minded not to approve them, will become operational on 30 April 2004.
	We expect the provisions on Independent Reviewing Officers to come into force in September 2004.
	Consultation documents have been published on provisions in the Act regarding advocacy services for children and young people; the review of children's cases; arranging adoptions and assessing prospective adopters; and adoption reports and adoptions with a foreign element. Copies are available in the Library. The Government will be consulting on the remaining provisions over the next few months.
	The regulations, court rules and guidance required to implement the core of the Act should be in place by the end of 2004. After a period for preparation and training, we expect the legislation to come into force in September 2005.
	The provisions on domestic violence and the definition of harm are being considered separately and the Government will make an announcement on these provisions in due course.

Adult Learning

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many courses for adult learning have been made available in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many courses are provided for adult learning in 2003–04 in the whole of England and Wales.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the number of courses made available for adult learning is not held centrally. What is held centrally, is information on the number of adults actually participating in further and adult education courses. Figures for (a) the number of adults aged 19 and over participating in LSC funded further education in sector colleges and external institutions and (b) the number of enrolments on adult education courses offered by local education authorities (LEAs), are set out separately as follows. Data on the number of learners participating in 2003/04 are not yet available.
	
		Adult learners (in thousands) on FE provision funded by the LSC in colleges and external institutions in England: 1997/98 to 2002/03
		
			  Adult learners 
		
		
			 1997/98 2,774.6 
			 1998/99 2,669.5 
			 1999/2000 2,611.6 
			 2000/01 2,777.4 
			 2001/02 3,220.8 
			 2002/03 3,234.9 
		
	
	Source:
	LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFR02
	
		Enrolments by learners aged 19 and over (in thousands) on adult education courses offered by LEAs at 1November 1997 to 2002
		
			 1 November Enrolments 
		
		
			 1997 1,014.7 
			 1998 1,055.9 
			 1999 1,007.2 
			 2000(24) 983.8 
			 2001(25) 1,015.4 
			 2002 993.2 
		
	
	(24) Revised estimate: enrolments were over reported by some LEAs in this year
	(25) Revised estimate: enrolments were inaccurately reported by some LEAs in this year, overall there was a net under-reporting
	Source:
	Local education authorities

Adult Learning

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding will be made available for adult learning in further education colleges for 2003/04.

Alan Johnson: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). In the 2003/04 academic year the LSC's planned allocation for adult learning in further education colleges is £1.923 billion. This figure includes planned funding for Additional Learner Support.

Adult Learning

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults have been trained at local colleges in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The numbers of Learning and Skills Council (formerly Further Education Funding Council) funded adult learners (aged 19 and over) enrolled in further education sector colleges in each year since 1997/98 are shown in the following table.
	
		Adult learners (in thousands) on FE provision funded by the Council in colleges in England: 1997/98 to 2002/03
		
			  Learners 
		
		
			 1997/98 2,480.1 
			 1998/99 2,383.4 
			 1999/2000 2,316.1 
			 2000/01 2,441.8 
			 2001/02 2,832.7 
			 2002/03 2,844.5 
		
	
	Source:
	LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFR02

Adult Learning Grant

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults are entitled to adult learning grant; and what steps his Department is taking to promote take-up.

Ivan Lewis: We estimate that some 6,000 adults may be eligible for the grant in the 10 pilot areas. So far there have been over 2,600 applications.
	We are working with the Learning and Skills Council, Further Education colleges, and advice and guidance agencies in the 10 pilots to promote this new grant. At this stage, the main focus is on promoting the grant to new learners who started courses during January 2004 and to existing learners who may be eligible but have not applied.

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the subject remit of the Arts and Humanities Research Council will be.

Charles Clarke: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) will cover the same broad range of areas of the arts and humanities as currently covered by the Arts and Humanities Research Board.

Asylum Seekers (Education)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of places in (a) further and (b) higher education provided to (i) asylum seekers and (ii) their children in the last year for which figures were available.

Alan Johnson: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) estimate that about 41,000 asylum seekers participated in LSC funded further education in 2001/02. It is not possible to identify how many learners were children of asylum seekers.
	Data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) covering students on higher education courses does not separately identify asylum seekers.

Basic Skills Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding will be made available for basic skills training for adults in each year from 2003 to 2006.

Ivan Lewis: Spending Review 2002 ensured that we are able to continue to support the Skills for Life strategy to enable 1.5 million adults to improve their literacy and numeracy skills by 2007. Over £1.6 billion has been made available to deliver the Skills for Life strategy for the three years to 2005–06 across Government Departments.

Basic Skills Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults he plans should participate in basic skills training in each year from 2003 to 2006; and what the figures were for each year from 1997 to 2003.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the number of adults participating in basic education in the Further Education sector from 1997 to 2001.
	
		
			  Learners (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1997–98 158 
			 1998–99 182 
			 1999–2000 270 
		
	
	The number of learners participating each year in Skills for Life programmes since the launch of the strategy in April 2001 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Learners (Thousand) 
		
		
			 2000–01 449 
			 2001–02 655 
			 2002–03(26) 664 
		
	
	(26) Includes an estimated component due to incomplete enrolment data.
	We expect this level of participation to continue enabling us to meet our targets of improving the skills of 750,000 adults by 2004 and 1.5 million adults by 2007.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Charles Clarke: One member of staff from my Department (formerly The Department for Education and Employment) was investigated and suspended for allegedly claiming benefit while working during this period. Following an investigation the Department was satisfied that there was no benefit fraud involved. We do not have records of the amounts involved.
	No staff were dismissed, prosecuted, or convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years.

Child Deaths

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of parents gaoled for shaking their babies to death are to be reviewed in the light of the Angela Cannings appeal judgement.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the release of Angela Cannings by the Court of Appeal and its published judgment, the Attorney General has instigated a number of measures. A total of 258 convictions over the last 10 years for the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of a child under two by its parent have been identified. Of those, a total of 72 relate to persons still serving a custodial sentence. These will be accorded the utmost priority. Currently, some 365 boxes of evidence relating to 52 high priority cases have been recovered from central storage and dispatched to CPS areas for them to conduct an initial review. The remaining high priority cases are being recovered from the areas themselves.
	Once the review becomes fully under way, the offences comprising the 258 convictions and the issue at trial will become clearer. Once that stage has been reached and more information is known on these cases it will be possible for me to write further to you with additional information.

Child Removals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been removed from their parents following a younger sibling's death, without evidence that one of the parents was responsible beyond reasonable doubt for the death of the first child, in the past 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not held centrally.

Children's Fund

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when his Department will confirm final allocation of funds for 2004–05 in respect of the Children's Fund.

Margaret Hodge: I expect to announce the Children's Fund allocations for 2004–05 shortly.

Children's Social Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had about the provision of children's social services in England.

Margaret Hodge: As the Minister for Children, Young People and Families I meet regularly with a range of people to discuss the provision of children's social services in England.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of time Connexions personal advisers have spent with young people from each socio-economic class, broken down by Connexions partnership.

Margaret Hodge: Information about the proportion of time Connexions personal advisers spend with young people from each socio-economic class is not collected by Connexions Partnerships.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what examinations and assessments of existing services for young people were carried out in each region before Connexions partnerships were established; and what the nature of such assessments was.

Margaret Hodge: All Connexions partnerships were subject to a rigorous assessment process before "going live" to ensure they were ready to provide a high quality service. As part of developing their business plans, partnerships were expected to undertake a local needs assessment to draw out the key needs of young people, the extent to which existing provision met those needs, and to identify gaps in services.
	The Connexions Service National Unit provided a mapping tool to assist this process. Partnerships also drew upon local mapping information collected for other purposes.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget allocation is for each Connexions partnership for 2004–05.

Margaret Hodge: The budget allocation for each Connexions Partnership for 2004–05 is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Connexions partnership 2004–05 allocation 
		
		
			 South East  
			 M. Keynes, Oxfordshire and Bucks 10,595,357 
			 Berkshire 6,669,629 
			 Surrey 8,110,651 
			 Kent and Medway 13,144,292 
			 Sussex 11,229,894 
			 South Central 14,247,867 
			   
			 London  
			 West London 12,661,008 
			 Central London 15,338,641 
			 North London 10,026,144 
			 East London 22,055,084 
			 South London 10,574,964 
			   
			 East of England  
			 Norfolk 6,508,049 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 5,981,683 
			 Suffolk 5,408,558 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 5,070,064 
			 Hertfordshire 7,913,832 
			 Essex, Southend and Thurrock 12,848,412 
			   
			 South West  
			 Gloucestershire 4,512,252 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon 4,979,619 
			 West of England 8,089,632 
			 Somerset 3,951,306 
			 Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole 5,060,675 
			 Cornwall and Devon 12,513,950 
			 West Midlands  
			 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 3,841,302 
			 Staffordshire 9,236,197 
			 Black Country 11,473,924 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 13,045,649 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 7,199,993 
			 Hereford and Worcester 5,652,538 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 Derbyshire 8,009,441 
			 Nottinghamshire 9,644,783 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 5,413,738 
			 Leicestershire 8,351,533 
			 Northamptonshire 5,759,611 
			   
			 Yorks and the Humber  
			 York and North Yorks 5,392,793 
			 West Yorkshire 20,546,411 
			 Humber 8,689,130 
			 South Yorkshire 12,385,536 
			   
			 North West  
			 Cumbria 4,281,199 
			 Lancashire 12,712,765 
			 Greater Manchester 26,256,913 
			 Greater Merseyside 17,411,643 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 6,850,581 
			   
			 North East  
			 Northumberland 3,011,745 
			 Tyne and Wear 11,667,484 
			 County Durham 4,829,615 
			 Tees Valley 7,143,913 
			   
			 Total England 446,300,000

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been carried out into the proportion of young people who are aware of the Connexions service in each partnership area, broken down by (a) ethnicity, (b) age and (c) gender.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the awareness of young people of the Connexions service has been obtained from two recent Department for Education and Skills research studies.
	In 2002, the Youth Cohort Study found that 51 per cent. of young people were aware of a Connexions service in their area. Of those, slightly more females said they were aware of a Connexions Service in this area (53 per cent. compared to 50 per cent. of males). Just over one-third of non-white respondents claimed awareness (36 per cent.) compared with 53 per cent. of white respondents.
	In 2003, a customer satisfaction survey of 16,000 young people found that awareness of Connexions was generally high. 92 per cent. of both male and female respondents contacted said they had heard of the service. For minority ethnic groups, awareness levels were 88 per cent. compared with 93 per cent. for white respondents. Young people aged 16–17 had the highest levels of awareness (94 per cent.), followed by 13 to 15-year-olds (92 per cent.) with those over 18 (89 per cent.) being the least aware of the service.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what qualifications and training Connexions' personal advisers are expected to have on (a) working with young offenders and (b) health matters; and what proportion are trained to this level within each area partnership.

Margaret Hodge: Detailed information on specific qualifications held by PAs working with young offenders and with individuals who have health concerns is not collected.
	Connexions Personal Advisers are drawn from a broad range of professional backgrounds including youth justice, social work, probation, youth work and career guidance. To be fully qualified Connexions Service personal advisers are required to have an NVQ level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline and have undertaken Connexions specific training.
	Connexions Personal Advisers are not expected to be experts in all areas but are trained to broker and refer to specialists where appropriate.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of Connexions' personal advisers within each area partnership have (a) a Qualification in Careers Guidance, (b) NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance, including specified units and (c) a Diploma in Careers Guidance.

Margaret Hodge: My department does not collect data on the proportion of specific specialist qualifications held by Connexions personal advisers.
	In our guidance to Partnerships we require that any Personal adviser responsible for providing young people with in-depth career guidance must hold a Qualification in Career Guidance, NVQ4 in Advice and Guidance (including specified units) or the Diploma in Careers Guidance. Connexions Partnerships are responsible for ensuring that this requirement is met.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of Connexions personal advisers within each area partnership are qualified to give guidance on all advisory services.

Margaret Hodge: To be fully qualified, Connexions PAs are required to have a NVQ level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline and have undertaken Connexions specific training in delivering a wide range of support services to young people. Connexions training equips personal advisers to recognise the boundaries of their existing professional competence and refer to specialist services where necessary.
	We do not collect information in the form requested. However, we expect that by April 2005 all Connexions personal advisers will have completed Connexions specific training.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what safeguards exist to ensure that young people are given in-depth advice only by properly qualified Connexions personal advisers.

Margaret Hodge: The safeguards are through training and supervision. Connexions personal advisers are either qualified to NVQ level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline or they are actively working to a level 4 qualification. They are also required to complete or be actively working towards Connexions specific training which equips them to recognise the boundaries of their own professional competence.
	All Connexions Service Partnerships have in place professional supervision arrangements.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the quality of advice given by Connexions personal advisers is monitored.

Margaret Hodge: The quality of advice given by Connexions personal advisers is monitored on three levels:
	1. It is a condition of grant that every Connexions partnership has effective procedures in place to evaluate the professional practice of personal advisers and takes appropriate steps to improve individual performance. Partnerships are also required to have robust professional supervision arrangements in place for all personal advisers.
	2. Connexions partnerships undertake a comprehensive annual self-assessment of their performance which is based on the document "Connexions Partnerships: A Framework for Inspection—April 2002". One of the key criteria addressed is the overall quality of advice given by personal advisers. Areas for improvement are identified and addressed by improvement actions in the following year's business plan. Currently progress against these improvement actions is monitored on a quarterly basis by the Government Office.
	3. The independent element of scrutiny of personal advisers' practice is provided by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) over a four-yearly cycle. Ofsted make judgements about the partnership, using the seven key questions within the Ofsted inspection framework. Within this framework Key Question 4 assesses the effectiveness of Connexions practice, assessment, support, teaching and guidance and contains a specific quality statement that addresses the quality of impartial information, advice and guidance provided to young people by personal advisers. Following the report of Ofsted's findings, partnerships are required to address any issues arising from the inspection in an action plan. Progress against this action plan is again monitored by the Government Office.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how (a) parents' and (b) clients' complaints against the service provided by Connexions are dealt with.

Margaret Hodge: Connexions partnerships are required to put in place a complaints procedure, which is the primary mechanism for all complaints from parents and clients. Should complaints not be resolved at that stage, the local Government office and Connexions teams within DfES investigate and provide support both to the public and partnerships to continually improve the level of service Connexions provides to clients and their families.
	Partnerships are required to have strategies to ensure young people are involved in the design, delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement of the service. This, in part, ensures the number of complaints is reduced. They must respond positively to any complaints made by young people and are required to publish a Youth Charter explaining what Connexions is and offers; its standards of service; and how to complain.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what criteria Ofsted assess the performance of a Connexions partnership.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of Connexions personal advisers within each area partnership has undergone Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Margaret Hodge: Although Connexions Partnerships provide us with the numbers of personal advisers they have recruited, they are not required to provide data on the numbers who have been subject to List 99 and Criminal Records Bureau checks. To do so would serve no purpose as it is a legal requirement for employers to ensure that personal advisers have been subjected to completed List 99 checks before they can come into direct contact with young people. We also require Partnerships to ensure a Criminal Records Bureau check is completed for all Connexions staff working with young people.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much time has been spent by Connexions personal advisers upon each advisory service.

Margaret Hodge: It is not possible to provide the information requested. Connexions advisers offer a broad range of advice on many issues. We do not ask them to account for their time by category of advice.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to ensure that Connexions works effectively with the voluntary sector.

Margaret Hodge: In October 2002, we published our first strategy for engaging the Voluntary and Community Sector [VCS] in Connexions. We have made considerable progress since then in working with the VCS:
	Connexions Partnerships awarded more than £10 million in grants and contracts to the VCS in 2002–03.
	There has been an increase in the number of personal advisers based within, or coming from, the VCS. Recent figures show that around 13 per cent. of Connexions personal advisers came from the VCS.
	Nearly every partnership board and local management committee now has VCS representation.
	Most partnerships have at least one full-time VCS co-ordinator or development worker.
	A working group, composed of representatives from the VCS, has been working with the Connexions Service National Unit advising on operational issues as they affect the sector, and sharing good practice.
	An updated strategy, "Involving the Voluntary and Community Sector in Connexions: Strategy and Guidance 2004–05" will be published later this month. This document was developed jointly with the VCS and is endorsed by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services.
	From April 2004, Connexions Partnerships will also be required to work with local VCS partners and other organisations to develop a clear and systematic local strategy for the involvement of the VCS in service design, planning, delivery and evaluation.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance is provided to voluntary organisations by Connexions in (a) ensuring staff undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks, (b) applying for funding and (c) ensuring they fulfil requirements.

Margaret Hodge: Connexions Partnerships are required to ensure enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks are completed for all staff they recruit, including those who are employed through a subcontractor or voluntary agency. Connexions Service Partnerships are encouraged to provide assistance to voluntary organisations when they apply for funding and are committed to keeping procedures simple. Partnerships are able to provide grant funding and in-kind support to voluntary organisations who might otherwise be able to engage with Connexions.
	It is the responsibility of contractors—including voluntary organisations—to ensure they fulfil contractual requirements, which partnerships monitor to ensure compliance.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of the Connexions Card scheme has been.

Margaret Hodge: My Department has so far spent £35,884,000 on the Connexions Card scheme.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people have Connexions cards within each partnership area.

Margaret Hodge: The number of young people who have a Connexions Card in each Connexions Partnership area is as follows:
	
		
			 Connexions Partnership Number of young people who have a Connexions Card 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 8,502 
			 Berkshire 6,981 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 4,075 
			 Black Country 8,213 
			 Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole 3,816 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 6,318 
			 Central London 6,084 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 4,507 
			 Cornwall and Devon 18,267 
			 County Durham 6,740 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 7,877 
			 Cumbria 3,771 
			 Derbyshire 4,194 
			 East London 19,156 
			 Essex, Southend and Thurrock 14,304 
			 Gloucestershire 2,255 
			 Greater Manchester 19,619 
			 Greater Merseyside 14,938 
			 Herefordshire and Worcestershire 1,434 
			 Hertfordshire 8,235 
			 Humber 16,653 
			 Kent and Medway 19,560 
			 Lancashire 4,294 
			 Leicestershire 11,887 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 6,986 
			 Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 6,938 
			 Norfolk 6,198 
			 North London 14,506 
			 Northamptonshire 8,421 
			 Northumberland 4,138 
			 Nottinghamshire 10,455 
			 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 3,015 
			 Somerset 1,562 
			 South Central 10,109 
			 South London 11,533 
			 South Yorkshire 7,127 
			 Staffordshire 6,142 
			 Suffolk 2,905 
			 Surrey 10,759 
			 Sussex 8,277 
			 Swindon and Wiltshire 5,429 
			 Tees Valley 20,052 
			 Tyne and Wear 18,897 
			 West London 8,396 
			 West of England 8,738 
			 West Yorkshire 11,857 
			 York and North Yorkshire 3,721 
			 Total 417,841

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people used Connexions Direct, on average, in each of the last six months broken down by (a) age and (b) ethnic origin.

Margaret Hodge: In the past six months (August 2003 to January 2004) Connexions Direct advisers handled an average of 16,000 contacts per month. In addition there were 70,000 visits per month to the Connexions Direct website.
	Many young people choose to remain anonymous when they contact Connexions Direct. Of those that chose to provide information, around 14 per cent. were aged 13 to 14, 39 per cent. 15 to 16 and 38 per cent. 17 to 19. Of those remaining around 1 per cent. were under 13 and the remainder were over 19. Information about ethnic origin is not available as reports over the past six months show no disclosure from young people.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how complaints from (a) parents and (b) young people about Connexions Direct are dealt with.

Margaret Hodge: All complaints from parents and young people are logged and investigated. If the complaint is during a call or webchat, the Connexions Direct duty manager will take over and deal with it immediately.
	In the past six months 15 complaints and 68 praise calls have been logged.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been spent on the (a) purchase and (b) rental of buildings by each Connexions area partnership in each year since its establishment.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Spend (£s) 
			   2001–2002 2002–2003 
			 Partnership Start date Purchase of buildings Rental of buildings Purchase of buildings Rental of buildings 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire and Luton September 2002   0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough April 2002   0 257,825 
			 Essex Southend and Thurrock September 2002   0 0 
			 Hertfordshire(27) April 2002   0 0 
			 Norfolk(27) January 2003   18,000 0 
			 Suffolk(27) September 2001 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire September 2002   0 0 
			 Leicestershire September 2002   0 135,192 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland April 2001 0 128,177 0 143,298 
			 Northamptonshire September 2002   0 147,410 
			 Nottinghamshire April 2002   0 199,197 
			 Central London(27) June 2002   0 0 
			 East London April 2002   0 94,000 
			 North London April 2001 0 0 0 0 
			 South London April 2001 0 0 0 0 
			 West London September 2002   0 24,000 
			 County Durham(27) April 2002   0 0 
			 Northumberland April 2003   0  
			 Tees Valley September 2002   0 0 
			 Tyne and Wear(27) April 2002   0 0 
			 Cheshire and Warrington April 2001 183,037 304,372 53,307 238,600 
			 Cumbria April 2001 0 123,950 0 137,269 
			 Gtr Manchester September 2002   0 88,208 
			 Gtr Merseyside September 2001 195,770 242,436 1,324,924 319,245 
			 Lancashire April 2002   98,000 338,000 
			 Berkshire January 2003   0 21,840 
			 Kent and Medway November 2002   0 28,000 
			 Milton Keynes Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire April 2001 0 0 0 14,000 
			 South Central September 2002   0 24,500 
			 Surrey November 2002   0 0 
			 Sussex September 2002   0 29,820 
			 Bournemouth Poole and Dorset April 2002   0 140,286 
			 Cornwall and Devon April 2001 0 313,000 0 334,000 
			 Gloucestershire April 2002   175,273 181,570 
			 Somerset April 2002   44,229 225,351 
			 West of England April 2001 62,000 0 4,000 331,000 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon September 2002   0 10,750 
			 Birmingham and Solihull September 2002   274,356 402,500 
			 Black Country April 2001 0 0 478,000 36,000 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire April 2001 0 0 208,605 360,060 
			 Hereford and Worcester April 2002   0 157,221 
			 Shropshire Telford and Wrekin April 2001 0 88,470 (28)— (28)— 
			 Staffordshire April 2002   0 264,500 
			 Humberside September 2001 0 23,375 0 23,375 
			 South Yorkshire April 2001 0 0 0 18,850 
			 West Yorkshire October 2002   0 0 
			 York and North Yorkshire September 2002   8,647 0 
		
	
	(27) These are Lead Body Partnerships for which we have separate accounting arrangements that do not require details of rental expenditure
	(28) Accounts are not submitted yet
	Note
	A zero indicates that a Partnership did not incur any expenditure on buildings (e.g. because it took over existing premises). The absence of any figure for 2001–02 means that the Partnership did not start until 2002–03
	Source:
	Partnerships' Annual Statutory Accounts

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what qualifications are required of Connexions personal advisers who give drugs counselling to clients.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 February 2004
	To be fully qualified Connexions Service personal advisers are required to have an NVQ level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline and have undertaken Connexions specific training in delivering and brokering a wide range of support for young people. This includes information on drugs and alcohol issues. Connexions training equips advisers to recognise the boundaries of their existing professional competence and to refer to specialist services when necessary. In 2003–04, £1 million has been made available to Connexions Service Partnerships to provide additional training to personal advisers on drugs related issues.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been distributed to voluntary organisations through the Connexions service in each year since its establishment.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Connexions Partnerships make both grant awards and contract payments to voluntary organisations. In 2001–02 these totalled £2.2 million, in 2002–03 £10.1 million and in the first six months of 2003–04 (the latest data available) £4.3 million.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average salary of a Connexions personal adviser is in (a) each area partnership and (b) England.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 February 2004
	My Department does not keep any data on the average salaries of Connexions personal advisers. Under their financial memorandum, partnerships are able to set their own salary rates taking account of qualification levels and local labour market factors.

Contact and Residence Disputes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether a legal presumption of contact as a principle to the consideration of contact and residence disputes would generally be in the best interests of the child;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether a legal presumption of contact would contradict the best interest principle of the Children Act 1989.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 67W. The Government support the view that, in general, children benefit from a continuing relationship with both parents following parental separation, where it is in the best interests of the child and safe for all family members. The fundamental principle of the Children Act 1989 is that
	"the child's welfare shall be the court's paramount consideration".
	There is no automatic "right" to contact for either fathers or mothers, but in practice the courts have taken the view that, in most cases, the child's welfare is best served by contact with both parents.

Education Funding

Stephen Dorrell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total (a) schools funding spending share, (b) school pupil numbers and (c) schools funding spending share per pupil was in (i) Leicestershire, (ii) Leicester City, (iii) Lincolnshire, (iv) Nottinghamshire, (v) Derbyshire and (vi) Northamptonshire for (A) 2003–04 and (B) 2004–05.

David Miliband: The figures requested are shown in the following table. The Schools Formula Spending Share (SFSS) formula comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil, which is the same across the country, plus a top-up for each pupil with additional educational needs, which is again the same across the country, plus top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers and for areas which are sparsely populated. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings or with significant sparsity will receive a higher level of funding per pupil.
	
		
			  SFSS (£ millions) 3 to 15 pupil numbers used in SFSS calculation SFSSper pupil(£) 
		
		
			 2004–05
			 Leicestershire 261.260 94,914 2,753 
			 Leicester City 154.136 46,910 3,286 
			 Lincolnshire 290.926 100,708 2,889 
			 Nottinghamshire 332.137 115,506 2,875 
			 Derbyshire 322.361 113,154 2,849 
			 Northamptonshire 298.063 102,153 2,918 
			 
			 2003–04
			 Leicestershire 246.965 94,898 2,602 
			 Leicester City 145.959 47,196 3,093 
			 Lincolnshire 271.211 99,652 2,722 
			 Nottinghamshire 314.974 116,298 2,708 
			 Derbyshire 302.640 113,297 2,671 
			 Northamptonshire 282.783 102,576 2,757

Educational Achievement

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils left school with no qualifications in each of the last five years.

David Miliband: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Academic year Percentage of 15 year old pupils with no GCSE/GNVQ passes 
		
		
			 1999 6.0 
			 2000 5.6 
			 2001 5.5 
			 2002 5.4 
			 2003 5.2

Environmental Education

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes will be made to the sources of funding for environmental education in schools when the landfill tax credit scheme is amended.

David Miliband: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 29 January 2004, Official Report, columns 525–26W.

Further Education

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new (a) sixth forms, (b) sixth form centres and (c) sixth form colleges have opened in each London borough under the London Challenge Planning since May 2003.

Stephen Twigg: Since May 2003, the following new provision for 16–19 year olds has opened:
	(a) Sixth forms:
	Brent: Capital City Academy (11–18 Academy), replacing Willesden High School (11–18 school).
	Ealing: West London Academy (11–18 Academy), replacing Compton High School and Sports College (11–18 school).
	Lambeth: new sixth form at Dunraven School.
	Lambeth: new sixth form at St. Martin in the Fields High School.
	Southwark: The Academy at Peckham (11–18 Academy), replacing Warwick Park (11–16 school).
	(b) Sixth form centres:
	Ealing: new sixth form centre as part of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College in Southall.
	Islington: new sixth form centre as part of City and Islington College at the Angel.
	Southwark: new sixth form academy as part of Southwark College at Waterloo.
	(c) Sixth form colleges:
	No sixth form colleges have opened since May 2003.

Golden Hellos

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to introduce golden hellos that write off tuition fees for graduates taking up public service careers in areas where there are shortages of personnel.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 February 2004
	I stated in the House on 27 January that I was commissioning a report to examine the gateways into the professions. On 12 February I was pleased to inform the House that Sir Alan Langlands, Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee has agreed to lead this work.
	The report will examine how the public sector and the professions can sustain and improve recruitment opportunities for graduates, especially those who do not qualify for the full £3,000 support. Sir Alan will be reporting to us by mid-2005.
	However, the Government is already spending in excess of £700 million to support the recruitment and retention of graduates into the public services, for example teachers, dentists and social workers. Part of Sir Alan's work will be to examine this current support and analyse its effectiveness. Additionally he will research current practice in the private sector with a view to determining how employers might respond in a variable fee environment.

Holiday Prices

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will discuss with the travel industry the differential pricing of holidays out of school term time.

Ivan Lewis: My Department has an on-going relationship with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), with whom we are in discussion on the issue of holiday pricing. ABTA advises that if parents book early, discounts may be made available for holidays out of term time. We also know that some local education authorities work in partnership with local tour operators to offer incentives to parents to take their children on holiday outside term time. Good practice on this issue is available at: www.dfes.gov/schoolattendance I am currently considering how this good practice could be implemented in all areas.
	The Office of Fair Trading has the power to look into holiday pricing if there is evidence of anti-competitive behaviour. At present, they have no such evidence.

Independent Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many independent schools have applied for conversion to state schools since 1997; how many of these applications have been accepted; and what reasons have been given when applications have been declined.

David Miliband: Since 1997, 22 independent schools have applied to become maintained schools; of these 19 have been approved. Where approval was not given the reasons included a lack of basic need; surplus places in the area; questions on the longer term education and financial viability of the proposed schools; and being dissatisfied about the school's ability to deliver the full range of the National Curriculum.

Individual Learning Accounts

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average waiting time has been for claims for payment from the terminated individual learning accounts to be assessed and paid.

Ivan Lewis: Since the closure of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme on the 23 November 2001, due to serious potential fraud and abuse, the average waiting time for payment of ILA incentives, in cases where validation checks to confirm the propriety of payments from public funds are straightforward, is 20 days. The average waiting time for payment to learning providers in cases where validation checks have proved complex is some 17 months. This takes into account procedures for obtaining sufficiently robust evidence from both learning providers and learners to ensure the propriety of payments from the public purse and lengthy settlement negotiations.
	Where registered learning providers have submitted a claim following the Ombudsman's Report into ILAs of 10 April 2003, the average waiting time for payment, including validation checks, is a little under 5 months.

Individual Learning Accounts

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that claims for payment to training providers are settled promptly from the terminated individual learning accounts.

Ivan Lewis: To ensure the propriety of payments and to protect public funds the Department requires registered learning providers to supply appropriate evidence to support all Individual Learning Account (ILA) claims. This evidence is subject to thorough validation checks before payments are made. Since closure of the ILA programme on 23 November 2001, due to serious potential fraud and abuse, to the end of January 2004 the Department's process for validating claims has resulted in £12.9 million being paid to 3,420 registered learning providers.
	Where we have unresolved complaints or there are other on-going concerns, payments continue to be withheld pending the outcomes of inquiries and investigations. Currently, following closure, £14.8 million is withheld.

Information Sharing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the new information referral and tracking system protocols and technical developments will interrelate with the wider e-Government programme; and how they will be integrated to ensure that local authorities are not unduly burdened.

Margaret Hodge: Any new systems will conform to the e-GIF (e-Government Interoperability Framework) and we are working with the Office of e-Envoy to ensure that those requirements are met.
	We are consulting other Government Departments on potential links with their e-Government developments and also liaising with ODPM colleagues in regard to the local e-Government programme. Our proposals in this area would only be commenced subject to a proper assessment of impact on local authorities and their capacity to deliver.

Information Sharing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much additional funds will be available to support the implementation of new information referral and tracking systems.

Margaret Hodge: Funding for the implementation of our proposals on information sharing systems will depend on the outcome of the 2004 spending review.

Research Grants

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the regional dimension of future research grant allocation.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) allocates research funding selectively to universities by a formula according to the quality and volume of their research activity. The funding formula has no explicit regional element. The Government's policy is to target available resources on the highest quality research wherever it exists to ensure our global competitiveness.
	The report of the Lambert Review of Business-University Collaboration in December 2003 recommends that there should be a new stream of funding for business-led collaborative research, which should be delivered at a regional level through Regional Development Agencies. The Government expect to respond fully to the report this summer.

Learning and Skills Councils

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are set for dispute resolution within learning and skills councils.

Alan Johnson: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Learning and Skills Councils

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria he uses in determining value for money from learning and skills councils; and what account he takes of value for money from councils when deciding upon re-appointment of council (a) directors and (b) board members.

Alan Johnson: The Learning and Skills Council Remit Letter, issued in November 2000, places a duty on the LSC to make the best use of its resources. It requires the Council to take account of the findings from individual provider and area inspection reports, and the assessments of the Inspectorates about whether the financial resources made available to providers are managed effectively and used in ways which provide value for money.
	The appointment of directors to the LSC is an operational matter for the LSC. Over 600 local Council 'board' members bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise to bear on the delivery of the skills agenda at the local level. They make this commitment on a voluntary basis (which clearly yields excellent value for money). Appointments of Council members is in line with the Nolan principles of fair and open competition and operated in accordance with the guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Reappointments are a matter for the LSC. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Learning Disabilities

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on education provision for (a) children and (b) adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Stephen Twigg: The Education Act 1996 places duties on local education authorities (LEAs) and all LEA-maintained schools to identify, assess and make suitable provision to meet children's special educational needs (SEN), including the SEN of children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. In doing so, maintained schools and LEAs must have regard to the SEN Code of Practice, which gives practical guidance on identifying and meeting children's SEN, covering all areas of need—communication and interaction; cognition and learning; behaviour, emotional and social development and sensory and physical needs.
	The Government's new SEN Strategy "Removing Barriers to Achievement", launched on 11 February, will build on the improvements to the statutory framework brought about by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act and the SEN Code of Practice, both 2001. Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities will benefit particularly from the proposals in the Strategy to improve early support for children with special needs from birth, to improve multi-agency working throughout education and in the transition to adult life, and to transform special schools, giving them an important role to play in providing education for children with the most severe and complex needs and sharing their specialist skills and knowledge with mainstream schools to provide children with a range of inclusive experiences.
	My Department has strengthened the rights of people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD), including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, to appropriate post-16 provision through a combination of legislative change and collaborative work with key organisations representing disabled learners. Under Section 13 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has a specific responsibility to help young people and adults with LDD. Although the LSC does not develop policies relating to specific groups of learners, its broad remit means that it can fund a wide range of provision to ensure these learners have access to suitable provision which meets their needs and, where appropriate, the additional support they require to undertake it.

Lifelong Learning

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the paper from the National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education on the implementation of lifelong learning.

Ivan Lewis: I have only recently received the paper which NIACE is circulating to key partners in advance of the Government's forthcoming Spending Review. The Government will consider the submission during the Spending Review.

Mathematics Degrees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list, for the most recent year for which information is available, the (a) first degree subjects studied and (b) first degree classifications achieved by those completing PGCEs in mathematics; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Information on the first-degree subjects studied by students on Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses is not collected centrally. However, all candidates training to teach secondary school pupils in England must, by law, demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of their subject at a standard equivalent to degree level before Qualified Teacher Status may be awarded.
	Of those candidates who successfully completed PGCE courses in mathematics in 2001/02, the latest year for which data are available, and whose first-degree classification is known, 10 per cent. held First-class Honours; 31 per cent. Upper Second-class Honours; 37 per cent. Lower Second-class Honours; and 13 per cent. Third-class Honours. A further 8 per cent. held Ordinary degrees.

Modern Apprenticeship (Sporting Excellence)

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will trial the modern apprenticeship in sporting excellence scheme before it is introduced to all relevant sporting organisations;
	(2)  how the more academically gifted young footballers' academic requirements will be taken into account when the modern apprenticeship in sporting excellence scheme is introduced;
	(3)  if he will delay the introduction of the modern apprenticeship in sporting excellence scheme until full consultation has been possible with all those involved;
	(4)  if he will allow sporting organisations more flexibility than provided for in the proposed modern apprenticeship in sporting excellence scheme to adapt the scheme to allow progression in careers other than sport.

Ivan Lewis: It was the intention to introduce the new Modern Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence MA SE for football from August 2004. I have decided that the current football scholarship will be available for a further year while work to develop a Modern Apprenticeship framework appropriate for football is continued. We ensure that all relevant football interests are consulted about the design of the framework. The scholarship will then be phased out from 2005.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many fathers have been imprisoned in the last 30 years based on expert witness evidence of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 30 January 2004
	I have been asked to reply.
	Neither the prison service nor the Crown Prosecution Service keeps records of cases in accordance with the type of expert evidence given at trial.
	Since the release of Angela Cannings by the Court of Appeal and its published judgment, the Attorney General has instigated a number of measures. Over the last 10 years, a total of 258 convictions over the last 10 years for the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of a child under two by its parent have been identified. Of those, a total of 72 relate to persons still serving a custodial sentence. These will be accorded the utmost priority. Currently, some 365 boxes of evidence relating to 52 high priority cases have been recovered from central storage and dispatched to CPS areas for them to conduct an initial review. The remaining high priority cases are being recovered from the areas themselves.
	Once the review becomes fully underway, the offences comprising the 258 convictions and the issue at trial will become clearer. Once that stage has been reached and more information is known on these cases it may be possible for me to write further to you with additional information that you seek.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he received a letter from Jan Loxley-Blount warning of the occurrence of misdiagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and subsequent miscarriages of justice.

Margaret Hodge: The first correspondence from Jan Loxley-Blount that the Department for Education and Skills has on record is dated 17 May 2000.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the term Munchausen syndrome by proxy changed to fabricated or induced illness; and what the reasons for the change were.

Margaret Hodge: The consultation document: "Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced" issued in June 2001 addressed this issue at paragraph 1.4:
	"The use of terminology to describe the fabrication or induction of illness in a child has been the subject of considerable debate between professionals. These differences of opinion may result in a loss of focus on the welfare of the child. In order to keep the child's safety and welfare as the primary focus of all professional activity, this Guidance refers to the 'fabrication or induction of illness in a child by a carer' rather than using a particular term. If, as a result of a carer's behaviour, there is concern that the child is likely to suffer significant harm, this guidance should be followed. The key issue is not what term to use to describe this type of abuse, but the impact of fabricated or induced illness on the child's health and development, and consideration of how best to safeguard the child's welfare."

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what measures he intends to put in place to reduce the numbers of parents wrongly accused of Munchausen syndrome by proxy;
	(2)  what measures he intends to put in place in social services to reduce the number of parents wrongly accused of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Margaret Hodge: The Government Guidance "Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced" was published in August 2002. It is supplementary guidance to "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (1999), the Government's interagency guidance on child protection. The Guidance sets out a clear process for all agencies to follow in relation to cases involving fabricated or induced illness in a child. It requires evidence-based decisions to be taken at each stage of the process by a multi-agency, multi professional team.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been removed from their parents since changes to social services guidance in 1998 which made reference to Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Margaret Hodge: The Government did not issue any guidance to social services in 1998 in relation to Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In February 1998 it issued a consultation paper entitled "Working Together to Safeguard Children: New Government Proposals For Inter-Agency Co-operation". This document did not contain any reference to Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Following the consultation, "Working Together to Safeguard Children" was issued in 1999. Subsequently, supplementary guidance, "Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced", was issued in August 2002.
	We do not hold information about the numbers of children looked after where they have had illness fabricated or induced. However, statistics from the Department of Health's statistics of Children Looked After by Local Authorities for the Year Ending 31 March 2002, about all children who started to be looked after in each year from 1998 to 2002, are as follows:
	
		Children who started to be looked after during the years ending 31March 1998 to 2002 by legal status on starting(29)—England
		
			  Numbers Percentages 
			 Legal status 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 All children(30) 29,700 28,400 28,600 25,100 24,600 100 100 100 100 100 
			 Care order 4,200 4,300 4,300 4,300 4,100 14 15 15 17 17 
			 Interim care order 3,300 3,500 3,800 3,900 3,800 11 12 13 15 16 
			 Full care order 910 880 510 450 270 3 3 2 2 1 
			
			 Youth Justice legal statuses 1,600 1,400 1,300 840 720 5 5 5 3 3 
			 On remand or committed for trial 1,400 1,200 1,200 760 680 5 4 4 3 3 
			 Detained under PACE(31) 200 180 150 60 40 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Supervision order 10 10 20 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			 Detained for child protection 3,100 3,300 3,300 2,700 3,000 11 12 12 11 12 
			 Police protection 1,500 1,500 1,600 1,500 1,600 5 5 6 6 7 
			 Emergency protection order 1,600 1,800 1,700 1,300 1,400 6 6 6 5 6 
			 Under child assessment order — 10 0 10 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			
			 Freed for adoption 80 110 20 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			 Voluntary agreement under S20 CA 1989 (single placements) 20,500 19,100 19,500 17,200 16,700 69 67 68 68 68 
			
			 Others legal status 140 160 70 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
		
	
	(29) Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted.
	(30) Figures for children looked after in this table exclude agreed series of short-term placements.
	(31) Children detained in local authority accommodation under section 38(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Muslim School Children

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have been assessed as having more than (i) 50, (ii) 75 and (iii) 90 per cent. of pupils who are classified as Muslim; and for how many of these schools this is a consequence of admissions criteria based on religious denomination.

Stephen Twigg: Information on the religion of pupils is not collected centrally.
	In January 2003 there were 1,647 primary schools and 115 secondary schools reporting selective intake where the main criterion for offering a place was based on religion. This is equivalent to 9.2 per cent. of maintained primary schools and 3.3 per cent. of maintained secondary schools.
	The religious character of two primary schools and two secondary schools was Muslim (as at January 2003).

Post-16 Education

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Learning and Skills Council on engagement with industry in post-16 education.

Alan Johnson: As a member of the national Skills Alliance the Learning and Skills Council has a major part to play in securing the effective implementation of our Skills Strategy. The Strategy sets a new framework for tackling our long-standing skills gaps and meeting the needs of industry.

Savings Schemes (Secondary Schools)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what savings account schemes operate in secondary schools; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage and support the development of such schemes.

David Miliband: The Department does not hold information about savings account schemes operating in secondary schools and has no plans to support the development of such schemes.

Savings Schemes (Secondary Schools)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provisions there are in the national curriculum to provide education on the management of personal finances and savings to secondary school pupils.

David Miliband: Personal finance education, which includes budgeting and saving, is provided in the curriculum through the framework of personal, social and health education. There is also provision for schools to teach financial management through other subjects such as mathematics.
	Personal Finance Education Guidance for schools was produced by the Department in July 2000.

EDUCATION

School Construction

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the new schools to be built in (a) Bassetlaw, (b) Birmingham, Northfield, (c) Birmingham, Perry Barr, (d) Blaydon, (e) Blyth Valley, (f) Bootle, (g) Bradford, West, (h) Braintree, (i) Burton, (j) Coventry, North-West, (k) Coventry, South, (l) Dover, (m) Ealing, North, (n) Eltham, (o) Feltham and Heston, (p) Forest of Dean, (q) Gateshead, East and Washington, West, (r) Hammersmith and Fulham, (s) Hendon, (t) Hornsey and Wood Green, (u) Ilford, North, (v) Kettering, (w) Knowsley, South, (x) Lancaster and Wyre, (y) Leeds, North-East, (z) Leeds, West, (aa) Leicester, East, (bb) Lewisham, Deptford, (cc) Liverpool, Riverside, (dd) Loughborough, (ee) Manchester, Withington, (ff) Milton Keynes, North-East, (gg) Northampton, South, (hh) North-West Leicestershire, (ii) Reading, East, (jj) Reading, West, (kk) Rugby and Kenilworth, (ll) Sheffield, Attercliffe, (mm) Sheffield, Hillsborough, (nn) Sittingbourne and Sheppey, (oo) Stevenage, (pp) Stockton North, (qq) Stoke-on-Trent, (rr) Stourbridge, (ss) Thurrock, (tt) Tyne Bridge, (uu) Wallasey, (vv) Wansbeck, (ww) Waveney, (xx) West Lancashire, (yy) Wirral, West, (zz) Wolverhampton, North-East and (aaa) Wolverhampton, South-East; and when the decision was taken to build them.

David Miliband: The following annex lists the schools and academies that, to our knowledge, are being built or are scheduled to be built in the near future.
	However, as the majority of capital funding is now allocated to local education authorities by formula, so that they can fund locally agreed priorities, the Department does not collect detailed information about all new schools being built within an authority. Therefore additional information on this should be held locally.
	Overall capital investment is set to rise from £3.8 billion this year to over £5 billion in 2005–06, compared to under £700 million in 1996–97. Within the overall funding for 2003–04, £512 million has been allocated on the basis of demonstrated basic need (new pupil places). However, it is for local education authorities to decide whether or not they need to build a new school in order to accommodate all pupils in their area.
	The hon. Member will be aware that we have just announced successful projects for the first wave of the Building Schools for the Future programme, which aims to rebuild or renew all secondary schools within a 10–15 year period.
	
		List of schools being built or due to be built in the near future
		
			 Constituency School name 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Bassetlaw Bassetlaw post 16 and community learning centre—December 2002Bircotes and Harworth Community Secondary School—December 2002Hartland Comprehensive School—December 2002Portland Comprehensive—December 2002Retford Oaks High—December 2002The Elizabethan High School—December 2002The King Edward VI School—December 2002Tuxford Comprehensive School—December 2002Valley Comprehensive School—December 2002 
			 (c) Birmingham, Perry Bar Kingsland Primary School—March 2003St. James CE Jl School (VC)—March 2003 
			 (k) Coventry, South St. Mary's and St. Benedict's Catholic Primary—2002 
			 (m) Ealing, North West London Academy—December 2002 
			 (q) Gateshead, East and Washington, West St. Edmund Campion Roman Catholic—2003 
			 (s) Hendon Akiva—2004 
			 (y) Leeds, North-East Allerton Grange—November 2003Carr Manor new High School—November 2003 
			 (bb) Lewisham, Deptford Ashmead Primary School—April 2002Childeric Primary School—April 2002Lewisham 2 Haberdashers—March 2004Crofton School—April 2002Gordonbrock Primary School—April 2002 
			 (cc) Liverpool, Riverside Shorefields School—June 1999Vauxhall VA Primary School—June 1999Liverpool 2 Kensington—August 2003 
			 (ff) Milton Keynes Christ the Sower—2003St. Bernadettes—2002 
			 (gg) Northampton, South Delapre Middle School—December 2002Duston Upper School—December 2002St. Crispins Primary—December 2002 
			 (ll) Sheffield, Attercliffe Westfield School—November 2002 
			 (rr) Stourbridge—Dudley Colley Lane Primary School—June 2000 
			 (xx) West Lancashire Guerdon Church—2003

School Deficits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will the list the deficit for each school as at 31 March 2003, broken down by local education authority.

David Miliband: The information requested is not yet available. The Department is awaiting a complete dataset relating to the 2002–03 financial year from a number of local education authorities. I shall write to the hon. Member when all of the information for 2002–03 is to hand.

School Funding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) financial and (b) other assistance is available to help schools adapt to the change in funding they receive as a result of falling rolls.

David Miliband: The minimum funding guarantee, which is part of the package of measures to restore stability and certainty to school funding over the next two years announced by the Secretary of State on 29 October, specifically recognises that schools with falling rolls have fixed costs for items such as cleaning, repairs and heating which do not reduce when pupil numbers go down. Such schools are guaranteed a per pupil funding increase in 2004–05 of more than 4 per cent., which is our guaranteed increase for schools where numbers do not change. In addition, LEAs can have safety nets in their local funding formulae to assist schools with falling rolls, and the mechanism which provides revenue support grant to authorities has one year data lag built into it designed to assist LEAs with overall falling rolls in their schools.

School Meals

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the net cost of the provision of school meals was to Essex county council in each year from 1990 to 2003.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect this information from schools or local education authorities.

School Meals

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money on average was spent per pupil per day on school meals by East Riding of Yorkshire local education authority in each of the last three years in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect this information from schools or local education authorities.

School Meals

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local authorities have delegated the school meals service to primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect this information.

Schools (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice his Department gave to the City of Nottingham on its bid under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement on the quality of the bid.

David Miliband: In July 2003, we announced guidance on the Building Schools for the Future programme which invited all authorities to apply for funding in the first wave of the programme, or to express an interest in inclusion in later waves. My officials then held a series of road shows around the country, to which all authorities were invited, where they were able to discuss the programme and the guidance in open sessions and also in one-to-one sessions with my officials.
	Proposals for inclusion in the first wave of funding from 2005–06 have now been rigorously appraised against the criteria for prioritisation in the guidance, and we are shortly to make an announcement. Announcements on subsequent wave funding will be made later this year.
	We propose to give detailed feedback to authorities which are not successful in applications for wave one funding.

Schools for the Future

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the criteria are for his decisions on the allocation of money for Schools for the Future; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

David Miliband: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 896W. We published our criteria for prioritisation in the Building Schools for the Future Programme in July 2003, and is available for reference in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary Schools

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to improve educational attainment in the early years of secondary school; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The Government are committed to improving the attainment of all 11 to 14-year-olds through the Key Stage 3 National Strategy which is central to our wider plans for transforming secondary education. The strategy aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom by investing in teachers' professional development.
	The strategy is starting to make a significant impact on standards after only one full year of implementation. The 2003 Key Stage 3 test results stand as the best ever on record with improvements in every subject and at every level. OFSTED have also endorsed the positive impact of the strategy and that it has been welcomed by teachers. Our priority is to build on the gains so far by further embedding the strategy, tackling under performance and supporting teachers in tailoring teaching and learning to better meet the needs of pupils and so personalise their learning experience.

Sir Roy Meadow/David Southall

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the General Medical Council about Professor Sir Roy Meadow.

Margaret Hodge: I have not spoken to the General Medical Council, but my officials sought confirmation from GMC officials in autumn last year of press reports that Professor Sir Roy Meadow was under GMC investigation.

Sir Roy Meadow/David Southall

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials in his Department last met (i) Sir Roy Meadow and (ii) David Southall.

Margaret Hodge: As far as we can tell from available records, no Minister or official from this Department has ever met with either in an official capacity.

Skill Shortages

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which region had the highest proportion of vacancies as a result of skill shortages in 1997.

Ivan Lewis: We can not say which region had the highest proportion of vacancies as a result of skill shortages in 1997 as this data were not reported in the employer survey of that time.

Skill Shortages

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many job vacancies he estimates are unfilled as a result of skill shortages.

Ivan Lewis: We do not know how many job vacancies are unfilled as a result of skill shortages. It is estimated that 135,000 job vacancies were hard to fill for skill-related reasons at the time of the Learning and Skills Council's National Employer Skills Survey but this does not mean that the vacancies will go unfilled.

Special Educational Needs

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost is of providing special needs education in (a) mainstream and (b) special schools in Gloucestershire in 2003–04; what percentage this forms of the total education budget; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 6 February 2004
	The information requested is given in the table:
	
		Total cost of providing special needs education in both mainstream and special schools in Gloucestershire in 2003–04
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 SEN element of schools budget(32) 9,320,818 
			 SEN element of LEA budget(33) 1,830,229 
			 ISB for special schools(34) 12,223,481 
			 Funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as "Notional SEN"(35) 10,176,629 
			 Cost of providing special needs education(36) 33,551,157 
			 Total education budget(37) 286,597,291 
			 Cost of providing special needs education as a percentage of total education budget 12 
		
	
	(32) As recorded in lines 1.1.1 to 1.1.5 of Table 1 of the budget statement.
	(33) As recorded in line 2.2.6 of Table 1 of the budget statement.
	(34) As recorded in line 1.0.1 of Table 1 of the budget statement.
	(35) As recorded on Table 2 of the budget statement (figures are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN).
	(36) Sum of 1 to 4.
	(37) As recorded on line 3 of Table 1 of the budget statement.
	Note:
	The data are taken from 2003–04 Section 52 Budget Statements as reported by Gloucestershire LEA.

Special Educational Needs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the comparative employment prospects of pupils with special needs educated in (a) mainstream schools and (b) special schools.

Stephen Twigg: No central record is kept of the outcomes for all young people with special educational needs (SEN) who attended mainstream or special schools. However, my Department has commissioned a longitudinal study of the post-16 transitions of young people with SEN. Wave one, which took place between January 2000 and September 2001 when the young people in the study were still aged 15–16, found that more mainstream school pupils with SEN wanted to look for a job at the end of their compulsory schooling than special school pupils (28 per cent. as against 16 per cent.). The results from wave two of the study will be published in the spring and a wave three has been commissioned. These waves will show the development of any differential employment outcomes as between mainstream and special school pupils.
	The new SEN strategy "Removing Barriers to Achievement", launched on 11 February, announced cross-Government action to improve the opportunities for progression beyond school for young people with SEN. A multi-agency group has been established to take this work forward and promoting employment as an aim in planning for the futures of almost all young people with SEN is one of the main objectives of this group. The group's work will take account of the findings of the SEN longitudinal study.

Special Measures

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he had with the Chief Inspector of Schools about the publication of the list of schools in special measures.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with HM Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, about a range of matters relating to standards in schools.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many selective schools are also specialist schools; what arrangements are in place for pupils who fail the entry tests to these schools to be able to attend a school with a similar specialism; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: 98 of the 1,686 designated specialist schools are selective grammar schools. On the basis of the latest collated information, 40 specialist schools have chosen to select a proportion of their pupils by aptitude.
	The admissions process for specialist schools is the same as for all other maintained schools. Applicants must be considered against the school's published admission arrangements, including, where applicable, selection.
	If a parent is refused a place for their child because the child fails an entry test to a selective maintained school, they have the right to appeal against that decision to an independent appeal panel.
	Local education authorities have a duty to ensure that they provide sufficient schools for the children living in their area who need one. There is no duty to provide schools with a particular specialism.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Government's figures for the cost of student loan subsidies include an element for (a) administration and (b) bad debt.

Alan Johnson: The Government's figures for the cost of student loan subsidies do include a provision for bad debt and for loans not recovered from borrowers meeting the criteria for cancellation of the outstanding debt. The costs for administering student loans is not included but are accounted for separately and, are recorded annually in the Departmental Report.

Student Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many one-and two-parent households will be eligible for the maximum combined up-front university grant for academic year 2006/07.

Alan Johnson: We expect around 30 per cent. of students will be eligible for a full combined grant of £2,700 in 2006/07, of which we expect around two thirds to be dependent students (who may be from one or two-parent households). Future numbers and proportions of students receiving grants will depend on changes in demand for higher education.

Student Finance

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many former students have outstanding loan accounts; how many of these are being repaid; how many are not being repaid because of the low income of the borrower; and what factors, apart from income, are taken into account when repayment is demanded.

Alan Johnson: Most borrowers who started their course from the 1998/99 academic year will repay income-contingent loans. Loans for those who started their course before 1998/99 are repayable on a mortgage-style basis. There are differences in the repayment terms for the two types of loan.
	Borrowers enter repayment status in the April following graduation or otherwise upon leaving their course. There were 1,492,000 student loan borrowers in the United Kingdom in repayment status at the end of the end of the financial year 2002–03. Of these, some 815,000 borrowers had mortgage-style accounts that were up to date with repayments, or income-contingent accounts which are repaid through the tax system.
	Some 559,000 borrowers who had mortgage-style loan accounts which they were liable to repay had been granted deferment because their income was below the threshold (£21,022 per annum from 1 September 2002, £21,364 from 1 September 2003).
	No repayments are collected from income-contingent borrowers whose income falls below £10,000 per annum. Repayments of income-contingent loans are collected through the tax system and are notified to the Student Loans Company after the end of the tax year for reconciliation with their records. Therefore the data on the number of borrowers with income-contingent loans, where repayments have not been deducted because the borrower's income is below the repayment threshold, are not yet available.
	The income-contingent loan repayment system takes into account whether the borrower is in receipt of disability related benefits, and whether they are covered by the Repayment of Teacher Loans scheme. Loans are cancelled: when the borrower reaches 65 years of age; if the borrower is in receipt of a disability related benefit and is permanently unfit for work; or if the borrower dies.
	The mortgage-style loan repayment system takes into account whether the borrower is in receipt of disability related benefits; whether they are covered by the Repayment of Teacher Loans scheme; and the number of loans taken out. Loans are cancelled: after 25 years or when the borrower reaches the age of 50 (60 if the borrower was aged over 40 when he/she last borrowed), whichever is the earlier; if the borrower is in receipt of a disability related benefit and is permanently unfit for work; or if the borrower dies.

Student Finance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of what the cost of providing maintenance loans to students from 2006/07 would be (a) under existing arrangements and (b) under the proposals in the Higher Education Bill.

Alan Johnson: The Department's future spending plans on maintenance loans under existing arrangements and under the proposals in the Higher Education Bill will depend on the outcome of Spending Review 2004.
	As stated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January, the resource cost 1 of raising the maximum rate of maintenance loan to match the basic living costs expenditure of the mid-range student is estimated at £65 million in 2006/07 terms. This is the resource cost to the Government of both the additional amount of maintenance loan advanced and the resulting impact on the repayments of fee loans.
	1 Estimates of the resource cost of the loans represent the real economic cost to the Government of providing the loans and take into account the forecast loan repayments, the cost of charging an interest rate below the government's cost of funds and any loan write offs

Higher Education

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students at higher education institutions in England and Wales are ordinarily resident in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: In 2002/03, there were 5,833 full- time undergraduate students ordinarily resident in Scotland who were enrolled at English and Welsh HE institutions.

Higher Education

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from England and Wales are studying at higher education institutions in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: In 2002/03, there were 14,238 full- time undergraduate students ordinarily resident in England and Wales who were enrolled at Scottish HE institutions.

Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether teachers employed under Schedule 2 of SI 2003 No.1663 are required to register with the General Teaching Council for England; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: All teachers with qualified teacher status who are employed in maintained and non-maintained special schools in England are required to register with the General Teaching Council for England. None of the persons referred to in Schedule 2 to The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003 are qualified teachers and so are not eligible to register with the Council. The Education Act 2002 provides for a new category of provisional registration which by regulation can be applied to teachers who are not qualified and can be made compulsory. These provisions are not yet in force.

Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local education authorities where the number of unqualified teachers employed in January 2003 was greater than in January 1998.

David Miliband: The number of full-time equivalent regular teachers without Qualified Teacher Status rose in all local education authorities in England between January 1998 and January 2003. Over the same period, the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers with Qualified Teacher Status also rose in all local education authorities except the City of London.

Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the General Teaching Council for England can discipline a teacher who has not paid its subscription; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The General Teaching Council has two sets of powers in relation to non-payment of the registration fee. It can remove a teacher's name from the register which would prevent the teacher from teaching in a maintained or non-maintained special school. However, the Council also has powers to require an employer to deduct the fee from a teacher's salary. Its policy is to use these powers wherever possible, providing it holds employment data on the teacher.

Tuition Fees

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the ability of (a) Birkbeck College, University of London and (b) the Open University to compete with other higher education institutions once the new proposals for tuition fees and funding are in place in 2006;
	(2)  what investment plans he has assessed for (a) Birkbeck College, University of London and (b) the Open University; and whether these are included in the Higher Education Bill.

Alan Johnson: The proposals for variable fees in the Higher Education Bill relate to full-time undergraduate students. The Government do not impose restrictions on the fees that may be charged for part-time undergraduate students, such as those attending Birkbeck College and the Open University. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will shortly be conducting a comprehensive review of how their funding for teaching is allocated. In accordance with the statement by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State to the House on 8 January 2004, a major focus of this review will be how the funding system might further support the development of part-time study.

Tuition Fees

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much income was generated from fees paid by students for courses in colleges of further education in each of the past five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information from the Learning and Skills Council shows that tuition fee income collected by further education institutions from Council funded adult students, their employers or other sources was as follows for the last three years:
	
		
			 Year £m 
		
		
			 2000–01 (38)153 
			 2001–02 159 
			 2002–3 171 
		
	
	(38) Includes income from some 16 to 18-year-olds on part-time courses.
	Data for earlier years on a consistent basis are not available without disproportionate cost.

University Access

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he will define non-traditional backgrounds for students when replacing the postcode premium.

Alan Johnson: The "postcode premium" formed part of the widening access and improving retention funds distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) via the teaching grants awarded to higher education institutions (HEIs). For 2004/05 HEFCE has advised HEIs that the distribution of widening access funding will be based on a method that weights:
	young (under 21 on entry) full-time undergraduate new entrants according to higher education (HE) participation by ward; and
	part-time and mature full-time undergraduates according to average educational achievement by ward.
	In addition, weightings of 8 per cent. for inner London and 5 per cent. for outer London are incorporated in the funding formula. These refinements will result in a more transparent funding formula that better reflects levels of educational disadvantage, as well as allowing for additional costs of institutions operating in London.

University Attendance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which local education authority had the highest number of school leavers attending university in each year since 1996; and what percentage this represented of the total number of school leavers in these local education authorities;
	(2)  which constituency had the highest number of people attending university in each year since 1996;
	(3)  which constituency had the highest number of school leavers attending university in each year since 1996; and what percentage these were of the total number of school leavers in those constituencies.

Alan Johnson: Figures by constituency are not available centrally.
	The available figures by local education authority (LEA) are given in the table. They currently only hold figures for entry into higher education at 18.
	
		LEAs with the highest proportion of 18-year-olds accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
		
			 Year of entry LEA Number of 18-year-olds accepted to HE courses Percentage of 18-year-olds in LEA 
		
		
			 1996 Hampshire 3,714 20.5 
			 1997 Kent 3,983 20.0 
			 1998 Surrey 3,549 26.1 
			 1999 Kent 3,628 21.7 
			 2000 Kent 3,575 22.1 
			 2001 Kent 3,622 22.0 
			 2002 Kent 3,863 23.4

University Attendance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many people attended university from (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire in each year since 1997; and what percentage this represents of the number of school leavers;
	(2)  how many people attended universities from Chorley in each year since 1996.

Alan Johnson: Numbers and participation rates at constituency level are not held centrally. The available information by local education authority (LEA) is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers 18-year-old applicants who were accepted to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK. Figures for Lancashire LEA for the years since 1996 are shown in the table.
	
		Numbers and participation rates of 18-year-olds from Lancashire LEA accepted through UCAS
		
			 Year of entry Number Participation rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 1996 3,237 19.6 
			 1997 3,902 21.8 
			 1998 3,256 21.9 
			 1999 3,296 22.6 
			 2000 3,303 23.0 
			 2001 3,418 23.1 
			 2002 3,511 23.7 
		
	
	Source:
	UCAS.

University Attendance

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people attended university from the Blackpool North and Fleetwood constituency in each year since 1996.

Alan Johnson: Figures by constituency are not held centrally.
	The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). It covers 18-year-old applicants, domiciled in Lancashire Local Education Authority (LEA), who were accepted to full time undergraduate courses in the UK and is given in the table.
	
		Number of 18-year-old applicants, domiciled in Lancashire(39)LEA, accepted to HE courses through UCAS
		
			  Year of Entry 
			 LEA 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Lancashire 3,237 3,902 3,256 3,296 3,303 3,418 3,511 
			 Blackburn n/a n/a 297 360 384 368 375 
			 Blackpool n/a n/a 240 250 263 254 272 
		
	
	(39) Prior to entry In 1999, figures were recorded as Lancashire LEA. Due to Local Government re-organisations, figures for 1999 entry onwards for Lancashire LEA were split into three LEAs: Lancashire, Blackburn and Blackpool.
	Source
	UCAS

Vocational Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes other than the Modern Apprenticeship scheme are in place for the provision of skills and vocational training.

Ivan Lewis: The aim of the national Skills for Life strategy is to improve adult literacy, language and numeracy skills. The target is to improve the basic skills of 1.5 million adults by 2007. From September this year, we will be phasing in an entitlement to free provision for level 2 learning for adults who do not already have a qualification at this level. For those already in the workforce, there are 12 Employer Training Pilots testing ways of encouraging employers to train low-skilled workers to a first level 2 or basic skills qualification. A further six pilots will begin in September this year.
	Entry to Employment (E2E) is a new work-based programme for young people aged 16–18. It will enable those with few or no qualifications to make a successful transition into a Modern Apprenticeship, sustained employment or further vocational learning opportunities. The Increased Flexibility for 14–16 year olds programme is providing vocational courses for around 90,000 pupils at Key Stage 4.

Vocational Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding per capita will be provided for vocational education training schemes other than the Modern Apprenticeship in each year from 2003 to 2006.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Vocational Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding will be provided for Modern Apprenticeship schemes in each year from 2003 to 2006.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Vocational Training

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding per capita will be provided for (a) skills-based learning, (b) vocational education, (c) evening classes run by colleges, (d) skills and vocational training and (e) skills training run by colleges for employers in each year from 2003 to 2006.

Alan Johnson: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Neither the Department nor the LSC allocate separate funding to the specific areas identified at (a) to (e) above. Funding for these specific areas will be drawn from funds allocated to the LSC for either Work Based Learning or Further Education.
	The Average in Learning cost for Work Based Learning in 2003–04 is £2,687 for those in the 16–18 age range, and £2,361 for those aged 19 and above. Based upon indicative budgets these figures are expected to rise to £2,896 and £2,552 respectively in 2004–05; and to £2,967 and £2,608 respectively in 2005–06.
	Assumed total funding per full time equivalent student in further education allocated to the LSC is £4,240 in 2003–04; £4,460 in 2004–05; and £4,650 in 2005–06.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

1911 Census

Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if his Department will agree to the early release of the 1911 Census data.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I have given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 457W, and on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1112W.

Independent Advocacy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how his Department is ensuring that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound and multiple impairments are able to access appropriate independent advocacy provision.

David Lammy: The legal professional bodies with advocacy provision are the Law Society; the General Council of the Bar; and the Institute of Legal Executives. Each of these bodies have made provisions under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to ensure that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound multiple impairments have access to the appropriate independent advocacy provisions. In addition, the Government established the Partnership Initiative Budget, as part of the Community Legal Service, which funds innovative projects designed to improve services for vulnerable groups, including the disabled.

Damages Claims

Mark Todd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations he has received concerning the regulation of those businesses which collect damages claims for processing by solicitors.

David Lammy: The Department received representations on regulating claims intermediaries in response to the consultation paper 'Simplifying CFAs' published in June 2003. A summary of the responses will be published in the spring.
	The Government have commissioned Sir David Clementi to review the regulatory framework of the legal services industry. Sir David announced in October 2003 that he will consider unregulated providers and regulatory gaps as part of his review. Sir David is expected to issue a consultation paper shortly and is due to report by December 2004.

Data Sharing

Mark Todd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities are fully acquainted with his Department's guidance, Public Sector Data Sharing: Guidance on the Law; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The legal guidance, Public Sector Data sharing: Guidance on the Law was published in November 2003. On publication, a press notice was issued and two copies were sent to all local authority Chief Executives in England and Wales. The guidance is also available on the Department's website at http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/sharing/toolkit/lawguide.htm. An electronic alert containing this link has been issued to local authority legal services, clerks to police, and joint fire and transport authorities by the Local Government Association. It has also been referred to at a number of conferences for local authority staff where DCA officials have spoken on data sharing issues. The guidance was widely anticipated by local authorities and I am confident that it has been made accessible to them.

Hutton Inquiry

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of the Hutton Inquiry was.

Christopher Leslie: The full cost to Government is still being determined, and we will publish the figure once it is available.

Immigration Adjudicators

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has to change the basis upon which immigration adjudicators are employed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his plans to terminate the current judicial appointment contracts for immigration adjudicators and issue new terms of contract equivalent to Civil Service terms and conditions.

David Lammy: The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill provides for the existing judicial members of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) to form the judicial complement in the proposed single tier Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT).
	The terms of appointment to the AIT will continue to safeguard the independence of judicial office holders and will not be amended to reflect equivalent terms and conditions of employment in the Civil Service.

Land Registry

Brian Wilson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the Land Registry Quinquennial Review proposals regarding beneficial ownership of land.

David Lammy: The report on the Land Registry's Quinquennial Review, published in June 2001, recommended that consideration be given to including details of the beneficial or true ownership of land on the land register for England and Wales. In response to a question from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 709W, it was announced that the Land Registry and the then Lord Chancellor's Department would jointly consider and consult other Government departments on the recommendation by autumn 2003. Depending on the outcome of that consultation and ministerial agreement consultation with stakeholders and the public on the principles and details would follow.
	This work has been deferred pending a review of the consultations to be carried out by the Land Registry, including those jointly with the Department for Constitutional Affairs, in the light of the difficulties of multiple simultaneous consultations. I have asked my officials to complete this review and to report to me by summer 2004 with their recommendations as to when the several consultations, including that relating to beneficial or true ownership, should be carried out.

Mr. Balwant Singh

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Leicester, East to Miss Fitzmaurice on 2 December 2003, what progress has been made in finding the file of Mr. Balwant Singh.

David Lammy: pursuant to his answer, 2 February 2004, Official Report, c. 726W
	The previous answer stated that checks with the Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) had confirmed that IND had not received the appeal papers for Mr. Balwant Singh. Following further checks with IND the appeal papers have been located and are currently being processed by IND before being lodged with the Immigration Appellate Authority for a substantive hearing.

Public Guardianship Office

Wayne David: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to improve the efficiency of the Public Guardianship Office.

Christopher Leslie: The Public Guardianship Office (PGO) expects to meet almost all of its key service delivery targets this financial year, and plans to set more challenging measures for next year so that, among other things, it answers a higher percentage of correspondence within target and deals with applications more efficiently. During 2004–05, the PGO will focus on quality improvement further to increase customer satisfaction in its services. A review of how complaints are handled has recently been initiated.

Public Guardianship Office

Wayne David: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Public Guardianship Office.

Christopher Leslie: The Public Guardianship Office (PGO) experienced severe service delivery problems during 2002–03 resulting in a large number of complaints (1,338 for the year) and key performance measures being missed. It has addressed these problems, so that this year numbers of complaints are well below those from the previous year (456 to end December 2003) and the PGO is on track to achieve almost all of its key performance measures at the end of March 2004.

Regional Assemblies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on constitutional changes necessary for the transfer of powers to regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	Voters in a region will first need to vote "yes" in a referendum under the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003. An Act of Parliament will then be needed to establish elected regional assemblies, allow elections to take place, set out their constitution and transfer powers to them.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will do its best to publish before the first referendums a draft Regional Assemblies Bill addressing these issues.

Sentencing

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the benches in England and Wales which have not yet signed up to the Magistrates National Sentencing Guidelines; and what percentage of benches this figure represents.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not collected or held centrally.
	The Judicial Studies Board incorporated the revised Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines into the Adult Court Bench Book that was recently issued to all magistrates and their legal advisers via their Magistrates Courts' Committees. The guidelines will therefore be available within every magistrates court in England and Wales.
	In court lay magistrates sit with their Justices' Clerk or a legal adviser. The Justices' Clerk has a statutory duty to provide advice to the magistrates on questions of law, practice and procedure. This will include advice on applying any case law and relevant Court of Appeal judgments when making decisions on sentence.

Small Claims Track

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  in how many small claims track cases the power to remit or waive court fees was exercised in 2002–03;
	(2)  how many times the power under article 6 of the county court rules to excuse payment of fees for exceptional financial hardship was used in 2002–03.

Christopher Leslie: Information concerning the use of the powers mentioned above is not collected centrally. Information concerning the number of applications made for exemption or remission of court fees is collected but not in a manner that would enable it to be broken down as requested. During 2002–03 there were 234,872 such applications made in the county courts of England and Wales.

Small Claims Track

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in what percentage of cases in the small claims track (a) the complainant and (b) the defendant was legally represented in 2002–03.

Christopher Leslie: During 2002–03 there were 56,988 small claims cases dealt with in the county courts of England and Wales. Based on sample data collected centrally, in just over 41 per cent. of these cases the complainant was legally represented while the comparative figure for the defendant was nearly 32 per cent.

Small Claims Track

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the fee bands for cases in the small claims track were fixed; and what plans there are to change them.

Christopher Leslie: The fee bands for claims in the small claims track (claims up to £5,000) were last fixed on 1 April 2003. My Department has no plans to change the fee bands for these claims.

Tied Agricultural Property

Adrian Flook: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many owners of properties with agricultural ties there are, broken down by land registry office area.

David Lammy: Her Majesty's Land Registry does not hold information on agricultural ties.

HOME DEPARTMENT

EU Enlargement

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to restrict the admission of residents of the east European states which will be admitted to the EU in May.

Beverley Hughes: From 1 May nationals of the Accession States have the right to free movement through all member states. The United Kingdom welcomes those who can contribute to our economy but will not allow people here purely to claim benefits. We will take the necessary action to ensure the United Kingdom is not open to abuse and will be announcing further details.

Asylum and Immigration(Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers about the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill.

Beverley Hughes: Officials have been in contact with officials in the Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive as appropriate.

Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the letter of 4 December 2003 from the hon. Member for Castle Point on the future contracts for housing asylum seekers is answered within five days.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Member on 9 February 2004.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter dated 8 December 2003 from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent, Mr. C. Ming of Fraserburgh.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Member on 16 February 2004.

Correspondence

David Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge of 8 January 2004.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 30 January 2004
	My hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) wrote to my hon. Friend on 29 January 2004.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 15 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Shaikh Ijaz Ahmed;
	(2)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 15 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Shaikh Ijaz Ahmed.

David Blunkett: I wrote to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 17 February 2004.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 1 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. S. Ahmed.

David Blunkett: I wrote to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 12 February 2004.

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, dated 13 December 2003, reference A485596; and what the reason is for the delay in responding to this inquiry.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 February 2004
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 12 February 2004.

Sex Offenders

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the protection of the public from known sex offenders living in the community.

Paul Goggins: Provisions in both the Criminal Justice Act and the Sexual Offences Act will help to strengthen public protection from known sex offenders. These include enhancing the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, tightening sex offender registration requirements, introducing new orders to prevent sex offenders from committing further offences and making the prosecution of sexual offences easier.

Gun Crime

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to support communities in the fight against gun crime.

Caroline Flint: We recognise the importance of supporting local communities to resist gun crime and gun culture. This is why we have provided support for the Disarm Trust to work directly with affected communities, and have allocated 1.2 million of recovered assets money to support community action in the most affected areas. We also hosted a major gun crime community engagement conference in January bringing together local community groups, voluntary organisations and others to help identify what more can be done.

Civil Liberties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism is in place to ensure that respect for civil liberties is considered at each stage of his Department's policy-making process.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Human Rights Act ensures that all legislation complies with the European convention on human rights. For all proposed legislation, section 19 of the Act requires the Minister to make a statement as to the compatibility with the convention. Throughout the policy making process we assess the effects on individuals and society through discussions with independent and representative bodies and where appropriate full public consultation.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acceptable behaviour contracts were issued in (a) York and (b) North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not routinely collect statistics on the use or otherwise of acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs). ABC schemes, also known as acceptable behaviour agreements, are voluntary and have been developed by a range of agencies whose role it is to prevent such behaviour.
	Research conducted in April 2002 showed that there were 173 ABC schemes running in England and Wales, with 1,868 contracts signed. A Home Office RDS publication on the evaluation of an ABC Scheme in the London borough of Islington was published on 20 January this year.

Asylum Amnesty

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families he expects to fall within the asylum amnesty.

Beverley Hughes: We expect up to 15,000 families to qualify under the ILR exercise.

Asylum Policy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the measures his Department is taking to ensure there is a co-ordinated asylum policy across EU member states.

Beverley Hughes: The UK Government are engaged in the on-going negotiations to ensure that European measures on asylum allow member states to deal effectively with applications while retaining flexibility to respond to the particular circumstances they face domestically.
	The UK has participated actively in negotiations on all EU asylum initiatives to date, and for example, played a major role in shaping the Eurodac and Dublin II Regulations, which have helped us identify and return asylum shoppers to EU countries where they first arrived or claimed asylum. We retain the right to opt in to European asylum measures on a case-by-case basis, and will do so where it is in the United Kingdom's interests.
	For further details on the measures taken, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby on 17 November 2003, Official Report, columns 673–74W.

Asylum Seekers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum seekers (a) have been refused asylum or other legal status to remain in the UK and (b) exhausted their rights of appeal in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The tables show the available information, relating to the outcomes of initial decisions, including refusals of leave to remain, and grants of asylum and the outcome of appeals at the IAA, for Iraqi nationals, who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, for each year from 1997 to September 2003. Data by nationality are not available for outcomes at the other levels of appeal.
	Information on the numbers of asylum applications by nationality and on the outcome of appeals is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February.
	
		Initial decisions on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom(40), 1997-September 2003, Nationals of Iraq -- Number of principal applicants
		
			   Cases considered under normal procedures(42) Backlog clearance exercise(43) 
			  Initial decisions(41) Granted asylum Granted exceptional leave to remain Granted humanitarian protection Granted discretionary leave Refused Granted asylum or exceptional leave to remain under backlog criteria Refused under backlog criteria(44) 
		
		
			 1997 665 255 295 (45)— (45)— 110 — — 
			 1998 1,100 510 500 (45)— (45)— 90 — — 
			 1999 745 315 320 (45)— (45)— 100 5 (46)— 
			 2000 5,530 845 2,455 (45)— (45)— 2,220 10 (46)— 
			 2001(47) 9,035 830 1,885 (45)— (45)— 6,315 — — 
			 2002(48) 11,905 715 8,195 (45)— (45)— 2,995 — — 
			 January to March 2003(48) 2,915 65 2,105 (45)— (45)— 770 — — 
			 April to June 2003(48) 335 5 (45)— (46)— (46)— 330 — — 
			 July to September 2003(48) 1,790 (46)— (45)— — 15 1,775 — — 
		
	
	(40) Figures rounded to the nearest 5,
	(41) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(42) Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(43) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog.
	(44) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(45) Not applicable
	(46) Equals 1 or 2
	(47) Revised figures
	(48) Provisional figures
	
		Outcome of appeals(49) , (50) determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Iraq,1997-September 2003 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			   Appeals determined by adjudicators 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total determined Total As percentage of total determined Total As percentage of total determined Total As percentage of total determined 
		
		
			 1997(51) 15 10 64 (52)— 14 5 21 
			 1998(51) 45 15 29 25 51 10 20 
			 1999 (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— 
			 2000 (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— (53)— 
			 2001 1,655 445 27 1,065 64 145 9 
			 2002(54) 4,570 1,130 25 2,970 65 470 10 
			 January to March 2003(54) 1,355 280 21 910 67 160 12 
			 April to June 2003(54) 205 40 20 145 69 20 10 
			 July to September 2003(54) 1,220 50 4 1,040 85 130 10 
		
	
	(49) Figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages), Figures may not add up due to independent rounding.
	(50) Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	(51) Figures are based on the cases for which information is recorded on the Refugee Index.
	(52) Equals 1 or 2
	(53) Not available.
	(54) Provisional figures

Asylum Seekers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which defences are under statute not to be considered as reasonable causes for asylum seekers no longer in possession of relevant documents.

Beverley Hughes: For the purpose of the offence set out in clause 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill, whether or not an excuse for failing to have a document is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of the particular case. However, the offence explicitly rules out deliberate destruction or disposal as an excuse, unless that destruction or disposal is for a reasonable cause or beyond the control of the person concerned. Certain behaviour does not amount to a reasonable cause, namely if the destruction or disposal was with a view to delaying or enhancing a claim or on the instructions or advice of a facilitator.
	As I said during Committee stage of the Bill, we are looking at the defences in clause 2. If we consider any amendments to be necessary, we intend to table them at Report stage.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers living in Glasgow were granted refugee status in the last year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Initial decision outcomes are not available relating to persons living in particular areas of the UK. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on the numbers of initial decisions on asylum applications by nationality and on the outcome of appeals is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin 'Asylum Statistics United Kingdom', available from the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February.

Asylum Seekers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who were qualified doctors have applied to work in the UK as doctors in each of the last five years; how many applications were (a) accepted and (b) rejected; and how many rejections were overturned on appeal.

Beverley Hughes: Generally speaking asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the United Kingdom while their claim for asylum is being processed. The Government are aware that some applicants use the asylum system as an alternative route for economic migration and we believe it is vital to discourage this and to send out a message that we will not tolerate abuse of the asylum system.
	Until 23 July 2002 asylum seekers who had not received an initial decision on their asylum claim within six months of its being lodged could seek exceptional permission to work under the terms of the employment concession. No detailed statistics were kept on the number of asylum seekers given permission to work under the terms of the concession and the type of job they wished to undertake.
	This concession has now been withdrawn. It is our policy to speed up the length of time asylum seekers are awaiting a decision on their status. The latest published figures show that 81 per cent. 1 , 2 of applications received in the period April to June 2003 had initial decisions reached and served within two months 3 , compared with 75 per cent. for the previous quarter. Proposals in the Asylum and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament will simplify and speed up the appeals process. In this context, we feel it is inappropriate for asylum seekers of any occupation to work.
	1 Source:A-CID database as at 31 October 2003.
	2 Excludes withdrawals and third country cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the Dublin Convention. Home Office's Public Service Agreement target for 2001–02 was 60 per cent. and for 2002–03 was 65 per cent. The target for 2003–04 is 75 per cent. Details of the targets are given in the 2000 Spending Review Public Service Agreements White Paper at http://www.treasury.gov.uk/. Excludes asylum applications lodged by Iraqis between 1 February and 31 May 2003.
	3 "Two months" is defined as 61 days.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers resident in Glasgow were granted refugee status in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all applications this represents.

Beverley Hughes: Initial decision outcomes are not available relating to persons residing in particular areas of the UK. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on the numbers of initial decisions on asylum applications by nationality and on the outcome of appeals is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications for refugee status were successful in the latest period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: There were 14,210 initial decisions on asylum applications in the period July to September 2003, the latest published figures, of which 5 per cent. of the decisions were grants of refugee status. A further 6 per cent. were granted discretionary leave and a minimal number (less than one per cent.) humanitarian protection. Information on appeals relating to initial decisions made in this period is unavailable but a percentage may be allowed.
	Information on the numbers of initial decisions on asylum applications is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February.

Asylum Seekers

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which countries, other than Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia, asylum seekers can claim hard case support if their claims are refused on appeal.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 February 2004
	As a matter policy accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (hard case support) may be provided to failed asylum seekers who are unable to leave immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control. Currently accommodation will be provided to Kurds from the Kurdish Autonomous Zone of Iraq because until recently there was no viable route of return. Now that Kurds from Iraq can leave under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme the policy of providing accommodation is being reviewed. It is possible for nationals of Zimbabwe and Somalia to make a voluntary return and accommodation will be provided only where they are seeking to return but cannot do so immediately. No other countries are routinely provided with accommodation if their claims for asylum are finally refused.

Asylum Seekers

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a time frame in which failed Iraqi asylum seekers are expected to return home.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer12 February 2004
	Failed Iraqi asylum seekers are expected to return to Iraq voluntarily once they have exhausted the appeal process; they can do so through the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme operated by the International Organisation for Migration. We are currently working on proposals for enforced return.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he is taking into account before deciding whether to proceed with a possible accommodation centre for asylum seekers at the Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 29 January 2004
	All prospective sites for accommodation centres are evaluated against a set of criteria including size, configuration, location, technical characteristics and planning considerations.
	I announced on 3 February that we have decided not to seek planning approval to develop an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at HMS Daedalus. Following a careful evaluation, we have concluded that the difficulties associated with the conversion of historic buildings and the creation of a suitable access point make the site unsuitable for the purposes of the trial.

Bail Hostels

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide which sex offenders from outside the city are sent to Peterborough Bail Hostel.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 6 February 2004
	The decision to admit anyone to an approved probation and bail hostel is only taken after a careful consideration of risk. Peterborough Approved Premises is part of a national estate of 100 premises managed by the National Probation Service of England and Wales. From time to time offenders are released from custody who cannot return to their home area for a variety of reasons, including victim issues. As part of a national service, Peterborough Approved Premises, having taken into careful consideration all the relevant risks, will accept "out of area" referrals.

Bail Hostels

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made to protect vulnerable young residents of bail hostels from residents who are known sex offenders.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 6 February 2004
	There are 100 approved premises (approved probation and bail hostels) managed by the National Probation Service for England and Wales. As a general rule, none of these approved premises admit anyone under the age of 18 years as a resident. In exceptional circumstances they may do so for short periods, but only if there were no Schedule I offenders at the approved premises at that time. The decision to admit anyone to an approved probation and bail hostel is only taken after a careful consideration of risk. This includes the risk to other residents.

Bail Hostels

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what records are kept of the number of sex offenders resident in bail hostels;
	(2)  how many sex offenders there were in Peterborough Bail Hostel in the last month for which figures are available; what percentage of the hostel's inmates this represented; and what the average percentage of sex offenders in bail hostels in England was in the last month for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 6 February 2004
	No published data is available on the numbers of offenders convicted or charged with sexual offences who are resident in approved premises.

Cannabis

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research the Department is carrying out into cannabis-related psychosis.

Caroline Flint: None. We rely upon the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The Council's advice is based upon a wide-ranging review of the available research. The Council will continue to monitor the research carefully.
	The Department of Health has commissioned research projects during 2002 and 2003 relating to cannabis and other substance misuse and harmful effects. Accordingly, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Melanie Johnson), on 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 317W.

Centre for the 3Rs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recommendation in the House of Lords report on Animals in Scientific Procedures for a Centre for the 3Rs, with particular regard to its projected (a) terms of reference and (b) budget.

Caroline Flint: In its report published in July 2002, the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures recommended the establishment of a United Kingdom centre for research into the 3Rs—the replacement of animal use, reduction of the number of animals used and the refinement of the procedures involved to minimise suffering—consisting of a small, administrative hub co-ordinating research unit embedded in existing centres of scientific excellence.
	In its response to the Select Committee's report, published in January 2003, the Government accepted this recommendation in principle and undertook to explore the case for such a centre. The Inter-Departmental Group for the 3Rs led by the Home Office, and including officials from the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of Science and Technology, the Food Standards Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, and other agencies, was tasked with taking this work forward.
	The Inter-Departmental Group reported to me on its initial findings in September 2003 and I expect to receive its final report shortly, including advice on the possible activities of a centre and funding issues. Subject to that advice, we will announce how we intend to proceed with the Select Committee's recommendation in the next few weeks.

Child Curfew Orders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child curfew orders have been issued in England and Wales, broken down by local authority area.

Paul Goggins: Figures broken down by local authority areas are not available. The available information relating to the number of persons aged 10 to 17 years who have received a curfew order at court, by police force area, England and Wales 2002, is contained in the table.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of persons aged 10 to 17 years sentenced to a curfew order at all courts for all offences, by police force area: England and Wales 2002(55)
		
			 Police force area Sentenced to a curfew order 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 67 
			 Bedfordshire 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 40 
			 Cheshire 12 
			 Cleveland 64 
			 Cumbria 9 
			 Derbyshire 37 
			 Devon and Cornwall 17 
			 Dorset 39 
			 Durham 44 
			 Essex 33 
			 Gloucestershire 13 
			 Greater Manchester 309 
			 Hampshire 97 
			 Hertfordshire 28 
			 Humberside 14 
			 Kent 75 
			 Lancashire 87 
			 Leicestershire 53 
			 Lincolnshire 6 
			 London, City of — 
			 Merseyside 29 
			 Metropolitan Police 293 
			 Norfolk 31 
			 Northamptonshire — 
			 Northumbria 38 
			 North Yorkshire 16 
			 Nottinghamshire 48 
			 South Yorkshire 68 
			 Staffordshire 43 
			 Suffolk 25 
			 Surrey 8 
			 Sussex 45 
			 Thames Valley 89 
			 Warwickshire 10 
			 West Mercia 61 
			 West Midlands 143 
			 West Yorkshire 177 
			 Wiltshire 5 
			 Dyfed Powys 4 
			 Gwent 11 
			 North Wales 58 
			 South Wales 87 
			 England and Wales 2,353 
		
	
	(55) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Constituency Case

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his officials will make a decision on the application of a constituent of the hon. Member for Vauxhall (HO Ref: T1129612).

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office received the application on 27 January 2004. Officials will aim to make a decision on the application within the published 13 week target date.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) anti-social behaviour orders, (b) acceptable behaviour contracts, (c) child curfew orders and (d) injunctions have been issued in the County of Denbighshire in each year since 1998.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is as follows:
	Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs). No notifications have been received by the Home Office of ASBOs issued within the county of Denbighshire since their introduction from 1 April 1999 up to 30 September 2003 (latest available).
	Acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs). Data on the number of ABCs are not collected centrally.
	Child curfew Orders. Data extracted from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database shows that, of juveniles (aged 10 to 17) sentenced to a curfew order, at all courts for all offences, in the Denbighshire Petty Sessional Area, between the years 1998 to 2002, there was one imposed in 2000 and six in 2002.
	Injunctions. Data are not collected centrally by my Department on the number of injunctions issued.

Criminal Justice Act

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the sentencing arrangements in the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced wide changes to the sentencing powers of the courts;
	For the first time, we have made explicit the purposes of sentencing and put them into statute. They are: public protection, punishment, crime reduction and reparation and the reform and rehabilitation of offenders.
	We have also put in place key principles to guide the Court when determining the seriousness of the offence and the severity of the resulting sentence. The most important of these is that previous convictions (where they are recent and relevant) should be treated as an aggravating factor when determining sentence severity.
	The courts must treat offences as aggravated, for sentencing purposes, where the victim's race, religion, sexual orientation or disability has been a contributing factor.
	The Act establishes a new Sentencing Guidelines Council whose role will be to promote consistent sentencing and which will be responsible for issuing guidelines on sentencing for the range of criminal offences.
	Magistrates will be able to sentence offenders for terms of imprisonment of up to 12 months instead of the current six months maximum.
	The Act provides a new indeterminate sentence for dangerous offenders, which means such an offender can be kept in custody until the Parole Board assesses him as presenting a risk which is manageable in the community.
	We are transforming the structure of short prison sentences so that they will be more effective at addressing the needs of offenders. New custodial sentences of less than 12 months will consist of a short 'custodial period' of between two weeks and three months followed by a 'licence period' of at least six months.
	The Act introduces intermittent custody for low risk offenders where the term of imprisonment is between 28 and 51 weeks duration. Intermittent custody allows for the sentence to be served either during weekdays or weekends, so that offenders can maintain jobs and relationships that contribute to rehabilitation.
	The generic community sentence will allow sentencers a much greater degree of flexibility in putting together tough community sentences that will be tailored to the needs of offenders at any level of seriousness. Where a court decides to impose a community sentence this can be tailored to fit the individual and may include an order to perform unpaid work or specific activities. It may also include exclusion orders or orders for treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.

Czech Migrants

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the content of the advertising campaign his Department commissioned from the International Organisation for Migration regarding immigration from the Czech Republic to Britain;
	(2)  how much his Department has paid to the International Organisation for Migration to launch an advertising campaign in the Czech Republic regarding migration to Britain; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  for what reasons his Department asked the International Organisation for Migration to launch an advertising campaign in the Czech Republic; and whether such campaigns have been considered for other countries joining the European Union on 1 May.

Beverley Hughes: We will make an announcement on these matters shortly.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department work in (a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire.

Fiona Mactaggart: In January 2004, the number of staff employed by the Home Office in the West Midlands was 5,856 and North Staffordshire was 176.

Disclosure Notices

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices imposing a disclosure requirement have been made under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Caroline Flint: None. Part III of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which includes the provision for giving notices under section 49, has not yet been implemented.

Driving Convictions

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for (a) causing death by dangerous driving, (b) dangerous driving and (c) careless driving there were in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information for England and Wales from the years 1997 to 2001 is given in the table. 2002 data will be available in the spring.
	
		Findings of guilt at all courts for specific offences, England and Wales, 1997–2001 -- Number of offences
		
			 Offence 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Causing death by dangerous driving(56) 237 235 190 210 273 
			 Dangerous driving(57) 5,926 5,742 5,243 5,184 5,375 
			 Careless driving(58) 55,758 52,144 46,763 41,326 36,939 
		
	
	(56) Offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, s1 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s1 and Criminal Justice Act 1993 s67.
	(57) Offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s2 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s2.
	(58) Offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s3, ss 12(1), 26(2), 33(3) & 168; Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 Regs. 19, 104–107 & 109.
	Note:
	Figures amended since publication of the Home Office 'Offences relating to motor vehicles England and Wales 2001 Supplementary tables'.

Eulisa de Freitas

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1057W, on Miss Eulisa de Freitas, and following receipt of new information provided to her by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Saint Helena and disclosure that Miss de Freitas' father, holds a British passport, if the Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-terrorism) will now meet the hon. Member for Totnes to discuss the renewal of Miss Eulisa de Freitas' British passport for a further period.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 January 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 27 January 2004.

Fear of Crime

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to combat the fear of crime among elderly people.

Hazel Blears: We are committed to reducing the levels of fear of crime among older people. We are addressing the misperceptions about crime by promoting the facts about crime levels and common sense precautions which individuals can take to prevent becoming a victim. In order to do this we have been working with charities such as Help the Aged and Age Concern to find new and better ways of tackling fear among the older population, as well as tackling the crimes committed against them.
	A Fear of Crime Toolkit was published on the Home Office Crime Reduction website in May 2003 to provide best practice to all the practitioners who are working towards reducing fear of crime within communities and vulnerable groups.

Firearms

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure, following his decision not to renew the Firearms Consultative Committee, that account will be taken of the interests of legal owners of firearms for sporting purposes in his review of firearms legislation; and what measures he proposes to ensure that these interests will be represented on a future firearms advisory body.

Caroline Flint: We are currently considering the establishment of a new consultative structure and will certainly wish to ensure that all interested parties, including sports shooters, are properly represented.

Georgia

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance his Department has offered to the new President of Georgia in reforming its police force; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The UK, together with its international partners, is presently considering what assistance we can provide to Georgia. My Department has not yet offered any assistance to the new President of Georgia in reforming its police force. However, I will give careful consideration to any future requests for either bilateral police assistance, or policing assistance through the international community, that my Department receives.

Hillingdon Judgment

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what decision has been made regarding increased funding for local authorities affected by the Hillingdon judgment of 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much extra funding has been (a) earmarked for and (b) paid (i) to each local authority which has a UK port or airport and (ii) specifically in respect of (A) Heathrow airport, (B) Gatwick airport, (C) Stansted airport and (D) the ports of Dover and Folkestone following the Hillingdon judgment of 2003.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 5 February 2004
	The Hillingdon judgment mainly concerns the availability of leaving care services for former unaccompanied asylum seeking children who have turned 18. Funding for leaving care services is provided by the Department for Education and Skills. My right hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced on 19 November 2003 that an additional £10 million would be made available from 2004–05 to top up the existing funding for care leavers.
	The Home Office provides funding for the support of unaccompanied asylum seeking children aged under 18 through an annual grant to local authorities. The unit cost rates for 2003–04 were announced in a letter from the Director of NASS to local authorities on 15 January. For those aged 16 and 17 the rate is £300 per child per week. This represents a 15 per cent. increase over the previous year. For those aged 15 and under the rate is £670 per child per week, an increase of 17 per cent.
	The arrangements announced on 15 January also allow for authorities who believe they have incurred significant additional costs to seek to have their level of grant considered under special circumstances arrangements. It is not possible to specify the amounts any authority will receive until these processes are complete. I would expect authorities receiving higher numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children, for example those with major air or sea ports in their area, to seek additional funding under these arrangements.

Illegal Immigrants

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who originally entered the UK illegally in 2002 and previous years were (a) granted asylum, (b) granted exceptional leave to remain and (c) removed in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 February 2004
	The information requested is not available. Information is not collated centrally on how many asylum applicants enter the UK illegally in any given year. The available information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records and would be unreliable.
	Overall it is estimated that 42 per cent. of total asylum applications made in 2002 resulted in grants of asylum (10 per cent.), or of exceptional leave to remain (23 per cent.) or in allowed appeals (10 per cent.), including outcomes occurring after 2002. Corresponding information on the numbers of failed asylum seekers who applied in 2002 and have subsequently been removed is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.
	Information on the outcomes of asylum-related initial decisions, and appeals, and removals is published in the annual statistical bulletin 'Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002', a copy of which is available from the Library, and quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next publication will be available on 24 February 2004.

Illegal Immigrants

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many illegal immigrants will be prevented from entering the UK in a year by photocopying air passengers' passports.

Beverley Hughes: A requirement for carriers to provide copies of travel documents would enable quicker determination of genuine identity, thereby speeding up processing times for asylum claims, which reduces detention and support costs. This would also assist with the redocumentation and removal process for those passengers who subsequently make unfounded asylum claims. The application of such a power should also deter a number of unfounded asylum applicants and illegal entrants from travelling to the UK in the first place. The proposed targeted approach of this power would allow effort to be concentrated on routes and areas of greatest concern. We are discussing with the airlines proposals for a voluntary trial scheme, whose results will help to establish how the new power would be most effective.

Immigration (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum applicants, (b) failed asylum applicants, (c) successful asylum applicants and (d) settled asylum seekers there are in Wales; and what the estimated number of illegal immigrants is in Wales, broken down by (i) police force, (ii) constituency and (iii) local authority area for each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers currently in the UK are either in receipt of support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or from local authorities, or are supporting themselves.
	Information on numbers of asylum applications and decision outcomes relating to asylum seekers in particular areas of the UK is unavailable as are statistics regarding the location of asylum seekers not in receipt of NASS support. There are no reliable figures available on the refugee or illegal immigrant population.
	The following table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) accommodated by MASS and receiving subsistence only support in Wales as at the end of each quarter since December 2001.
	
		
			 As at end: In receipt of subsistence only support Supported in MASS accommodation 
		
		
			 December 2001 140 700 
			 March 2002 160 1,020 
			 June 2002 175 1,150 
			 September 2002 180 1,405 
			 December 2002 180 1,585 
			 March 2003 185 1,870 
			 June 2003 175 2,130 
			 September 2003 160 2,350 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Information on NASS supported asylum seekers can be broken down to local authority level and parliamentary constituency level.
	The following table shows the numbers of asylum seekers in Wales at local authority level (available from December 2002).
	
		
			 As at end: Cardiff Neath Port Talbot Newport Swansea Wrexham Other(59) 
		
		
			 December 2002   
			 Subsistence 70 — 25 15 — 70 
			 Accommodation 1,000 * 115 410 55 — 
			 March 2003   
			 Subsistence 75 — 20 20 — 70 
			 Accommodation 1,105 5 135 585 45 — 
			 June 2003   
			 Subsistence 65 — — 25 — 85 
			 Accommodation 1,165 5 200 710 50 — 
			 September 2003   
			 Subsistence 60 — — 20 — 75 
			 Accommodation 1,230 5 280 790 45 — 
		
	
	(59) Local authorities with fewer than 20 asylum seekers in receipt of subsistence only support are grouped as 'other'.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
	The following table shows the number of asylum seekers in Wales at parliamentary constituency level (available only as at end September 2003).
	
		
			  In receipt of subsistence only support Supported in NASS accommodation 
		
		
			 Aberavon 5 5 
			 Alyn and Deeside 5 — 
			 Caerphilly 10 — 
			 Cardiff Central 25 530 
			 Cardiff North 5 85 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 20 420 
			 Cardiff West 10 200 
			 Clwyd South — 5 
			 Clwyd West 5 — 
			 Conwy 5 — 
			 Cynon Valley 5 — 
			 Gower 5 15 
			 Llanelli 5 — 
			 Newport East 5 115 
			 Newport West 10 165 
			 Swansea East 5 470 
			 Swansea West 10 305 
			 Torfaen 5 — 
			 Wrexham 5 40 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five and parliamentary constituencies with one or two asylum seekers resident are excluded from the table. The parliamentary constituency boundaries have been created using the November 2003 Office for National Statistics definitions.

Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System has been accessed by (a) Interpol, (b) the National Criminal Intelligence Service, (c) the anti-terrorism branch of the Metropolitan police and (d) metropolitan and provincial forces.

Beverley Hughes: Locally held Immigration Service records show that the following requests were made for access to the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System (IAFS) between January and December 2003:
	
		
			  Number of requests for access to IAFS 
		
		
			 Interpol/NCIS 132 
			 Anti terrorist branch (Metropolitan police) 664 
			 Metropolitan and provincial forces 230 
		
	
	In November 2003 an electronic link was established between the police fingerprint database (NAFIS) and the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System. The Police IT Organisation (PITO) have provided the following figures for searches made following the establishment of this link:
	November 2003: 177 (of which 23 were made by the metropolitan and provincial forces)
	December 2003: 181 (of which 57 were made by metropolitan and provincial forces)
	January 2004: 394 (of which 43 were made by metropolitan and provincial forces).
	We are unable to specify the number of searches requested by NCIS, Interpol or the Anti Terrorist branch of the Metropolitan police without detailed examination of the cases concerned which would be at a disproportionate cost.

Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Sri Lankan authorities have accessed fingerprints taken from visa applicants under the six-month pilot scheme, (a) directly through the UK authorities and (b) indirectly through Interpol.

Beverley Hughes: The Sir Lankan authorities have not accessed fingerprints taken from visa applicants under the six-month pilot scheme, either (a) directly through the UK authorities or (b) indirectly through Interpol.

Immigration and Crime

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been conducted into links between (a) legal immigration, (b) illegal immigration and (c) failed asylum bids and levels of (i) violent crime, (ii) property crime and (iii) car crime.

Beverley Hughes: The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office commissions and undertakes a broad programme of research on asylum and immigration. Within this, research is currently being developed which will explore the links between legal and illegal migration.
	At present there is no evidence to suggest that asylum seekers are more likely to commit crime than any other person living in the United Kingdom.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is available to Immigration and Nationality Directorate caseworkers before they begin work processing asylum applications.

Beverley Hughes: All new asylum caseworkers receive intensive training, comprising an initial 11-day course on all aspects of asylum work, 13 days in a special mentoring unit, and a 3-day intensive interviewing course (which is followed up by a consolidation workshop after 3 months in post). They receive continual support and mentoring from more experienced colleagues in a team working environment where the sharing and pooling of acquired expertise is actively encouraged. They also receive any additional training or mentoring necessitated by changes in legislation, policy and procedures, and attend developmental presentations or seminars provided by organisations such as UNHCR and the Medical Foundation. The effectiveness of the training is regularly evaluated to ensure that it continues to match the induction and development needs of new caseworkers.

Immigration Service (Child Detainees)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are being detained in centres run by the Immigration Service.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 29 January 2004
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) internal management information indicates that on 26 January 2004, 35 children were in detention.
	Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers at 27 December 2003 is due to be published on 24 February 2004 in the Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter 2003 publication on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Khat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how much crime is committed by people under the influence of khat.

Caroline Flint: Khat is not a controlled drug and no routine statistics are collected about its use to enable a quantitative exploration of the extent of link with crime. However, the Home Office is in the process of commissioning a small-scale study, to report in the first half of next year, which will look at khat use in specific communities and explore qualitatively whether there may be a link with use of controlled drugs or offending behaviour.

Khat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban khat.

Caroline Flint: The Government have no plans at present to ban khat or to control it under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which advises on these matters, keeps its legal status under review.
	The Government are also considering ways to address the problems of khat misuse as part of a wider diversity initiative to ensure that the national drug strategy meets the needs of all our communities. This will include the development of appropriate drug prevention materials and information to raise awareness about khat misuse.

Marriages

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to permit persons to marry in this country without both parties satisfying the authorities, prior to the marriage ceremony, as to their immigration status; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: In order to marry in the United Kingdom, a couple must demonstrate that they have the legal capacity to marry and are not of a blood relationship. The immigration status of a person is not a legal impediment to them marrying here.
	A person will only be granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of marriage if the requirements of the Immigration Rules relating to marriage are met.
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, places a statutory duty on registrars to report to the Home Office those marriages where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the marriage will be a sham.
	Last year there were around 2,700 reports of suspicious marriages from registrars. On receipt, the reports are examined to ensure that the suspicions warrant further investigation. If appropriate, the papers are passed to whichever office is in the best position to deal with it. This would normally be the local Immigration Service enforcement office.
	Action has led to the successful apprehension of immigration offenders. Several "professional" spouses, and their prospective husbands and wives, have gone to prison for sentences ranging from three to nine months.

Metropolitan Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms are (a) in use and (b) on order by the Metropolitan police.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that there are (a) 2,965 firearms owned by the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) a further 40 firearms on order.

Metropolitan Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Metropolitan police has to increase the number of trained firearms officers.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the number of trained firearms officers is constantly kept under review to ensure that sufficient officers are available to provide an appropriate response and to meet contingencies, perceived risk and anticipated threat levels.

Migrant Workers

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to tackle illegal exploitation of migrant workers; and what steps his Department is taking to improve coordination with the Department of Work and Pensions on this issue.

Beverley Hughes: We are pursuing our policy of managed migration so that those who want to apply to come and work in the United Kingdom lawfully to meet the country's economic needs can do so on the basis of informed choice and with access to the rights and freedoms available to other workers. In combination, we are strengthening action against illegal working. The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Bill, currently before Parliament, will create a new offence of trafficking for exploitation, including forced labour, with a maximum penalty of 14 years. We intend to strengthen the document checks employers are required to carry out under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. We have been active tackling issues related to gangmasters and support the objectives set out in the Gangmasters (Licensing) Bill introduced by the hon. Member for West Renfrewshire (Jim Sheridan). We are increasing the number of illegal working operations generally and are targeting organised traffickers under the auspices of the Reflex taskforce.
	The Immigration Service already has close working-level contacts with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and regularly carries out joint enforcement operations with officials from that Department. We have established a joint intelligence cell with the DWP National Identity Fraud Unit to facilitate closer co-ordination.

Ministerial Meetings

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be made.

David Blunkett: My Department follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary, not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Murder Cases

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murder cases were brought to trial in each police force area in England and Wales between 1982 and 2003 which resulted in (a) conviction, (b) acquittal and (c) conviction later overturned on appeal.

Paul Goggins: The latest figures for England and Wales are given in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002–03: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime", a copy of which is available from the House of Commons Library or internet site: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html
	Information on appeals is not held centrally.
	In England and Wales from January 1982 to March 2003, 13,897 suspects were indicted for homicide. Of these, 10,387 were convicted of homicide and 2,666 were acquitted.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that links with criminal justice boards, crime reduction partnerships and multi-agency public protection panel arrangements are retained under the arrangements for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 February 2004
	Inter-agency work to protect the public and encourage rehabilitation will be a central element of the work of the National Offender Management Service.
	The details of the National Offender Management Service and its links with Criminal Justice Boards, Crime Reduction Partnerships and Multi Agency Protection Panels will be developed as part of the implementation of the Reducing Crime-Changing Lives reforms.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lines of accountability will lie between local offender managers and regional offender managers under the arrangements for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 February 2004
	The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. As part of the implementation of the Reducing Crime—Changing Lives reforms the implementation team will consider the lines of accountability between local offender managers and regional offender managers which will be subject to full consultation with staff and unions.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether human resource and finance facilities for probation areas will be provided at regional level under the arrangements for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 February 2004
	The structure of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), including the human resource and finance facilities, is not yet finalised. The implementation team will work closely with staff and unions to get the structure of NOMS right. No decisions have been made at this stage about changes to numbers terms of service or work locations and there will be full consultation on any proposed changes.

Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons nurses working in the UK with a work permit are barred from registering with a nursing agency.

Beverley Hughes: Work permits are not issued to employment agencies and similar businesses for any employment because we wish to ensure that the employer is directly responsible for the duties of the post for which the work permit is issued. Work supplementary to that for which the permit is issued is also subject to this restriction. Overseas nurses are free to use the services of employment agencies and similar types of business to search for further employment opportunities, but it is for the employer, not the agency, that should apply for the work permit.

Operation Puma

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) policing and (b) criminal justice implications of the collapse of the London City Bond and Operation Puma cases.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are implementing the recommendations of the report by Mr. Justice Butterfield which reviewed a number of cases including those two. The Government have been reviewing the process for securing prosecutions in organised crime cases generally, and proposals will appear in a consultation document on tackling organised crime which we intend to publish shortly.

Persistent Offenders

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will change the definition of persistent offenders, with particular reference to rural areas.

Paul Goggins: The national Persistent Offender Scheme that came into effect in April 2003 defines a Core Persistent Offender as "someone who is 18 or over and has been convicted of six or more recordable offences in the last 12 months". The definition was developed in order to provide an objective test of persistent offending that can be applied across the criminal justice system. However the scheme recognises that there are individuals who do not meet this definition, who may be suspected of being prolific offenders on the basis of local intelligence. Therefore Local Criminal Justice Areas have the flexibility also to apply persistent offender strategies to "Local Persistent Offenders", identified on the basis of local intelligence and priorities, which could include issues of particular relevance to rural areas.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents involving police cars there were (a) in total and (b) involving fatalities in each year since 1997 (i) in England and Wales and (ii) in each police force area; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The total number of accidents involving police vehicles in England and Wales is given in the table. The number of police and civilian fatalities arising from police responses to immediate/emergency calls and pursuits are also separately shown.
	The Government welcome the recognition by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that they must work to reduce the number of collisions involving police vehicles.
	Measures already in place include a new police driver training course, launched in December 2000, which introduced a universal standard for driving in England and Wales. An essential element of the course is that officers should recognise the need to give priority to public safety above all other considerations such as attending an incident or apprehending a suspect.
	Where pursuits are concerned, there is a nationally agreed ACPO Pursuit Code of Practice and it is already police policy to consider continuously the consequences of a pursuit and whether to break it off.
	ACPO are working closely with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to identify how police vehicle collisions might be avoided. Useful information can be expected from the increasing use by forces of Automatic Data Recorders (ADR) and Vehicle Accident Data Recorders (VADR). These operate in a similar way to aircraft black boxes, providing data on such issues as speed, gear changes, breaking, and the use of blue lights.
	
		Total police vehicle accidents  -- Values
		
			  Time periods 
			 Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			  
			  
			 England and Wales 16,908 16,946 17,338 18,068 19,266 16,826 18,644 
			 Avon and Somerset 507 477 531 457 394 616 647 
			 Bedfordshire 205 320 161 215 170 167 196 
			 Cambridgeshire 256 303 238 200 225 183 217 
			 Cheshire 194 111 142 112 124 175 167 
			 City of London 80 62 64 56 90 30 142 
			 Cleveland 75 86 44 62 92 (60)— 186 
			 Cumbria 116 133 87 144 152 182 447 
			 Derbyshire 320 383 399 355 379 399 449 
			 Devon and Cornwall 250 308 337 347 352 369 184 
			 Dorset 119 139 129 143 166 188 (60)— 
			 Durham 159 142 184 157 182 178 204 
			 Dyfed-Powys 75 42 40 88 162 198 414 
			 Essex 391 396 406 392 446 392 203 
			 Gloucestershire 196 147 163 228 181 124 1,038 
			 Greater Manchester 957 774 933 981 1,108 1,050 160 
			 Gwent 195 182 217 194 179 199 543 
			 Hampshire 555 594 560 665 622 617 344 
			 Hertfordshire 223 196 197 221 307 310 150 
			 Humberside 188 207 236 162 198 194 732 
			 Kent 423 546 448 427 507 506 510 
			 Lancashire 449 268 160 417 331 244 180 
			 Leicestershire 214 173 186 168 161 145 131 
			 Lincolnshire 71 94 185 149 141 114 38 
			 Merseyside 320 414 262 335 260 325 240 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,783 4,045 1,645 4,643 5,375 3,657 4,910 
			 Norfolk 192 211 184 221 224 202 231 
			 Northamptonshire 134 139 91 68 147 86 121 
			 Northumbria (60)— 489 472 510 445 432 513 
			 North Wales 95 48 46 46 77 92 60 
			 North Yorkshire 131 140 140 102 167 117 397 
			 Nottinghamshire 298 278 225 211 213 240 316 
			 South Wales 597 563 651 663 873 833 917 
			 South Yorkshire 292 357 400 367 279 216 316 
			 Staffordshire 557 644 646 527 462 298 306 
			 Suffolk 136 122 168 143 137 142 119 
			 Surrey 270 108 108 42 148 103 320 
			 Sussex 401 282 223 567 462 (60)— 470 
			 Thames Valley 888 688 918 1,045 1,063 1,127 992 
			 Warwickshire 137 135 123 136 132 135 119 
			 West Mercia 175 270 260 201 234 202 293 
			 West Midlands 1,503 1,367 1,210 1,220 1,286 1,360 (60)— 
			 West Yorkshire 728 500 453 629 553 619 672 
			 Wiltshire 53 63 66 52 60 60 50 
		
	
	
		Police fatal road traffic accidents immediate/pursuit -- Values
		
			  Time periods 
			 Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 England and Wales 0 0 1 3 1 1 2 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Civilian fatal police vehicle accidents immediate/pursuit -- Values
		
			  Time periods 
			 Forces 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 England and Wales 15 15 10 11 18 23 20 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 (60)— 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 1 0 (60)— 
			 Durham 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 
			 Greater Manchester 2 8 2 1 6 5 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 (60)— 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 2 0 0 0 0 0 (60)— 
			 Leicestershire 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 
			 Metropolitan Police 1 1 1 1 6 2 4 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 (60)— 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 1 0 0 2 0 1 3 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 1 0 0 0 0 1 (60)— 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(60) Indicate data not yet submitted by police force.
	Notes:
	1. The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.
	2. All figures are for financial years.
	3. The figures for police vehicle accidents include all incidents in which a police vehicle sustains damage, including those where no other vehicle is involved. They encompass a very wide range of incidents from the very serious to the trivial, such as a scratched vehicle in a police yard.
	4. Details of the number of fatalities involving police vehicles engaged in activities other than immediate/emergency response or pursuit are not centrally available.

Prison and Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered reclassifying the Prison and Probation Service as an emergency service.

Paul Goggins: The Government have not considered reclassifying the Prison and Probation Service as an emergency service and have no plans to do so.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors have been identified as accounting for the increase of self-harming incidents in prisons between 1999 and 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 February 2004
	In December 2002 new procedures for reporting self-injury were introduced in prisons in England and Wales. The evidence suggests that much of the increase in reported self-harm in 2003 may result from this rather than an actual increase in the incidence of self-harm.
	Beyond that, the reasons for any increase in prisoner self-harm may be related to the fact that the prison population includes a large number of prisoners with a combination of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, family background and relationship problems, histories of self-harm and previous abuse, all of which raise their risk of suicide and self-harm. Additionally, the current operating environment is very challenging because an increased prisoner population and movement of prisoners puts a strain on resources and makes it more challenging to prevent suicides and self-harm. Long-term trends suggest that self-inflicted deaths have been increasing since 1988, broadly in line with the increase in prison population.
	A number of intervention strategies have been introduced into establishments for people who self-harm. These include counselling, support groups, and specialised psychological interventions. A network of establishments has been set up to develop interventions, facilitate evaluation and share good practice, and guidance to staff on managing people who self-harm has been circulated to establishments.

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs, and what extra resources will be provided, to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's office when he takes on responsibility for investigating deaths of prisoners, residents of probation hostels and detainees in immigration removal centres from April.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 26 January 2004
	Provisional estimates of the costs are in the region of £1.5 million a year. The Ombudsman's office is working on the detail of the new arrangements in consultation with my officials. The necessary extra resources will be provided as part of the Ombudsman's funding for the next financial year. In the meantime, we have provided an additional £100,000 for start-up costs in the current year.

Released Prisoners

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the length of time in which released prisoners can apply for Housing Benefit.

Chris Pond: I have been asked to reply.
	All customers, including those leaving prison, may make a Housing Benefit claim up to 13 weeks in advance. Where there is continuous good cause for delay customers may also apply for their Housing Benefit to be backdated. We have no plans to change these arrangements at present.
	Jobcentre Plus currently assist released prisoners by waiving labour market conditions for the first seven days of their claim and by providing pre-arranged work focused interviews through the Freshstart initiative. As many Housing Benefit applications are linked to claims for Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support, this helps to ensure that Housing Benefit claims are made as early as possible.

Royal Pardons

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many royal pardons of convicted criminals were agreed by the Home Secretary in each year between 1983 and 2003.

David Blunkett: The two forms of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) used to grant pardons to convicted criminals are:
	(1) Free pardon ("free" in this context means that the pardon is free from any conditions); and
	(2) Remission (the mitigation of punishment by releasing a prisoner from having to serve some or all of the remainder of his sentence; or releasing one who has been subjected to a monetary penalty from the obligation to pay it or part of it).
	The figures from 1992 are in the following table—Figures for earlier years are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Free Pardons Remission(61) 
		
		
			 1992 19 42 
			 1993 22 34 
			 1994 12 29 
			 1995 12 1 
			 1996 1 4 
			 1997 0 3 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 0 2 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2002 0 3 
			 2003 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures do not include the occasional use of RPM for small periods of remission to reward meritorious acts in prison (e.g. extinguishing a fire).

Russian Citizens (Asylum)

Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Russian citizens have applied for political asylum in the UK during the past five years; and how many have been granted political asylum.

Beverley Hughes: The table shows the number of asylum applications and initial decisions for nationals of Russia (excluding dependants) in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and from January to September 2003, the latest period for which published data is available. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
	Information on asylum applications and decisions is published quarterly. The next publication covering the fourth quarter of 2003, and provisional full year data, will be available on 24 February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Initial decisions on asylum applications(61) , (62) , (63) received in the United kingdom, excluding dependants, by year, nationals of Russia -- Principal applicants
		
			   Initial decisions 
			Cases considered under normal procedures 
			Grants of: 
			  Applications received Total initial decisions Asylum ELR HP DL Totalrefusals(64) 
		
		
			 1999 685 305 * 5 N/a N/a 55 
			 2000 1,000 1,195 25 45 N/a N/a 900 
			 2001(68) 450 895 20 40 N/a N/a 840 
			 2002(69) 295 355 15 20 N/a N/a 320 
			 Q1 2003(69) 70 95 * 5 N/a N/a 85 
			 Q2 2003(69) 65 115 * N/a * 5 110 
			 Q3 2003(69) 65 80 * N/a — 5 75 
		
	
	
		Initial decisions on asylum applications(61) , (62) , (63) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by year, nationals of Russia -- Principal applicants
		
			  Backlog clearance exercise 
			  Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(65) , (66) Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria(65) , (67) 
		
		
			 1999 190 50 
			 2000 185 35 
			 2001(68) n/a n/a 
			 2002(69) n/a n/a 
			 Q1 2003(69) n/a n/a 
			 Q2 2003(69) n/a n/a 
			 Q3 2003(69) n/a n/a 
		
	
	(61) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2
	(62) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period
	(63) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions
	(64) May include some refusals under non compliance grounds
	(65) Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog
	(66) May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted
	(67) May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds
	(68) Revised figures
	(69) Not applicable

Seaside Towns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of crimes in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales were drug-related, in the latest month for which figures are available, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There is currently no measure of drug-related offending at the local level. Existing data sources such as convictions, and recorded crime statistics are not available at ward level and do not contain information about offenders' drug use.

Sentencing Guidelines Council

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council.

Paul Goggins: The role of the Sentencing Guidelines Council is to issue guidance on all aspects of sentencing so as to promote consistent and just sentencing by the courts within the framework provided by Parliament. Recruitment of members is currently under way.

Tagging

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the case for (a) using tagging with an intensive supervision order and (b) making tagged offenders who can afford it pay a rental for tagging equipment.

Paul Goggins: The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) operates within the supervision order for juveniles. The programme is being evaluated by Oxford university and the evaluation report with 12 month reconviction data is now expected in April 2004. Electronic tagging provides the main form of monitoring of the offender on ISSP. Other forms of monitoring include voice verification.
	Electronic monitoring is also used with curfew orders and tagging on bail as well as early release from custody. Evaluation of tagging for juveniles on curfew orders has been published. Progress is also being made on developing the Intensive Control and Change Programme with tagging for 18 to 20-year-old adults and we are extending the pilot areas.
	We have no proposals to charge juvenile or adult offenders for tagging. The financial benefits of charging offenders for use of tagging equipment are likely to be small and offset by administration and enforcement costs. Tagging is already a cost effective alternative to custody.

Visas

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to (a) re-examine and (b) change visa arrangements for US nationals entering the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: The Government have no plans to re-examine or change the entry clearance requirements for US nationals entering the United Kingdom, although all such requirements are kept under review.

Visas

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) the arrangements for the issuing of visas and (b) eligibility for visas are for (i) US citizens and (ii) other non-EU and non-Commonwealth citizens entering the United Kingdom.

Beverley Hughes: Arrangements for the issuing of visas are specific to the individual visa issuing Post and are influenced by factors such as the level of demand, and local security situation. Applicants may lodge applications online, in person or by courier service or post. Visa sections may return successful applicants' passports by courier service, or return their endorsed passport to them in person. In the US the visa issuing Posts in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York accept applications made on-line, by post or in person. Visa sections in non-EU or non-Commonwealth countries may operate any one or more of these methods.
	US Nationals are not visa nationals and are therefore only obliged to apply for entry clearance to the UK in specific categories, as set out in the Immigration Rules or if coming to the UK for longer than six months. Visa nationals, which include certain non-EU and non-Commonwealth citizens, are required to obtain entry clearance to enter the UK for any period or purpose. Whether applying for entry clearance or not, the same conditions, as set out in the Immigration Rules, apply to all non-EU or non-Commonwealth nationals.

Visas

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken by his Department to respond to requests for information made by the Visa Section of the British High Commission in Harare about visa applicants.

Beverley Hughes: Immigration and Nationality Department officials are working closely with UKvisas to ensure that all requests for information are handled promptly, effectively and securely by those involved. On 10 January this year a new system was introduced making greater use of electronic transmissions. This will also provide an audit trail for each request for information. UKvisas and the relevant Home Office Departments are constantly reviewing the system. Work is currently under way to identify further improvements.

Wetherby Young Offenders Institution

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 762W, on HMYOI Wetherby, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increases in costs per prisoner and cost per prisoner place; and what the (a) cost and (b) increase in cost is per (i) prisoner and (ii) prisoner place.

Paul Goggins: I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to question (151131) on 9 February 2004 which set out the reasons for increases in the cost per prisoner and cost per prisoner place at HMYOI Wetherby between 1998–99 and 2002–03. The costs themselves were set out in my previous answers to questions 145649 and 145650.

Work Permits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: Under the work permit arrangements, 136,151 approvals were issued during the calendar year 2002. This figure includes initial approvals and approvals of applications to extend and to change existing work permits. It represents a 13 per cent. increase on the numbers of approved in 2001 and a 203 per cent. increase since 1997. These increases are part of our overall policy of expanding legal migration where it meets the needs of the economy while bearing down on illegal migration.

Work Permits

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were granted to health care professionals to work in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) country of origin and (b) profession.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 29 January 2004
	The tables provide figures for the numbers of work permits granted to health care professionals between 1995 and 2003 (the period for which information is available) broken down by country of origin, and between 2000 and 2003 broken down by occupation.
	A breakdown by occupations for the years 1995 to 1999 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		All health and medical work permit applications approved, broken down by country of origin: 1995
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 India 209 
			 Mauritius 157 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 151 
			 Nigeria 116 
			 United States of America 112 
			 South Africa 102 
			 Australia 100 
			 Zimbabwe 76 
			 Pakistan 68 
			 Malaysia 57 
			 Others 475 
			 Total 1,623 
		
	
	
		1996
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 India 276 
			 Mauritius 200 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 192 
			 South Africa 190 
			 Australia 189 
			 Zimbabwe 146 
			 Nigeria 133 
			 United States of America 127 
			 Pakistan 96 
			 Malaysia 82 
			 Others 650 
			 Total 2,281 
		
	
	
		1997
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 420 
			 Australia 357 
			 India 318 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 198 
			 Nigeria 196 
			 United States of America 187 
			 Mauritius 162 
			 Zimbabwe 142 
			 Pakistan 112 
			 Canada 102 
			 Others 926 
			 Total 3,120 
		
	
	
		1998
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 753 
			 India 457 
			 Australia 438 
			 Nigeria 338 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 278 
			 United States of America 232 
			 Zimbabwe 225 
			 New Zealand 192 
			 Mauritius 187 
			 Malaysia 178 
			 Others 1,465 
			 Total 4,743 
		
	
	
		1999
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 2,024 
			 Philippines 1,770 
			 India 916 
			 Australia 720 
			 Nigeria 688 
			 Zimbabwe 581 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 501 
			 United States of America 376 
			 Malaysia 272 
			 New Zealand 259 
			 Others 2,629 
			 Total 10,736 
		
	
	
		2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 6,592 
			 South Africa 2,880 
			 India 1,939 
			 Zimbabwe 1,149 
			 Nigeria 1,046 
			 Australia 827 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 471 
			 United States of America 401 
			 Pakistan 391 
			 New Zealand 390 
			 Others 3,874 
			 Total 19,960 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 10,017 
			 India 4,137 
			 South Africa 4,132 
			 Zimbabwe 1,959 
			 Nigeria 1,329 
			 Australia 1,097 
			 Pakistan 799 
			 Ghana 565 
			 China Peoples Republic of 539 
			 New Zealand 488 
			 Others 5,514 
			 Total 30,576 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 11,143 
			 India 6,482 
			 South Africa 5,728 
			 Zimbabwe 2,646 
			 Nigeria 1,814 
			 Australia 1,241 
			 Pakistan 861 
			 China Peoples Republic of 713 
			 Ghana 631 
			 Bulgaria 599 
			 Others 6,598 
			 Total 38,456 
		
	
	
		2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 12,014 
			 India 9,835 
			 South Africa 5,880 
			 Zimbabwe 2,825 
			 Nigeria 1,510 
			 Australia 1,292 
			 China Peoples Republic of 1,068 
			 Pakistan 964 
			 Ghana 850 
			 Bulgaria 787 
			 Others 7,417 
			 Total 44,442 
		
	
	
		All health and medical work permit applications approved, broken down by occupation: 2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Nurse 14,123 
			 Medical practitioner 543 
			 Pharmacist 411 
			 Researcher 243 
			 Dental surgeon 162 
			 Physiotherapist 157 
			 Assistant dentist 140 
			 Veterinary surgeon 114 
			 Psychiatrist 99 
			 Occupational therapist 90 
			 Others 3,879 
			 Total 19,961 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Nurse 22,414 
			 Medical practitioner 852 
			 Doctor 762 
			 Pharmacist 471 
			 Researcher 267 
			 Physiotherapist 261 
			 Dental surgeon 218 
			 Psychiatrist 188 
			 Radiographer 155 
			 Occupational therapist 135 
			 Others 4,854 
			 Total 30,577 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Nurse 25,926 
			 Doctor 1,948 
			 Medical practitioner 524 
			 Pharmacist 443 
			 Researcher 378 
			 Physiotherapist 357 
			 Radiographer 352 
			 Dental surgeon 238 
			 Psychiatrist 213 
			 Occupational therapist 194 
			 Others 7,884 
			 Total 38,457 
		
	
	
		2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Nurse 27,171 
			 Doctor 2,947 
			 Pharmacist 409 
			 Physiotherapist 389 
			 Radiographer 384 
			 Medical practitioner 340 
			 Researcher 339 
			 Social worker 208 
			 Dental surgeon 201 
			 Psychiatrist 189 
			 Others 11,866 
			 Total 44,443

Work Permits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down, by occupation, work permits awarded in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Figures for the primary occupations for which the most work permit applications have been issued since 1997 are given in the following tables:
	
		1997
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Trainee 4,529 
			 Manager 2,579 
			 Manager (Unspecified) 1,943 
			 Systems Analyst 1,768 
			 Staff Nurse 1,527 
			 Other Financial Occupations 1,331 
			 Company Director 1,209 
			 Other Medical Occupations 1,007 
			 Other Professional Sportsmen 908 
			 Musician 839 
			 Others 25,204 
		
	
	
		1998
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Trainee 5,649 
			 Systems Analyst 2,446 
			 Manager 2,254 
			 Staff Nurse 1,782 
			 Manager (Unspecified) 1,543 
			 Company Director 1,162 
			 Other Financial Occupations 1,102 
			 Other Medical Occupations 1,083 
			 Musician 846 
			 Other Professional Sportsmen 723 
			 Others 33,022 
		
	
	
		1999
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Trainee 3,957 
			 Staff Nurse 2,679 
			 Nurse 2,406 
			 Other Managerial Related Occupation 2,195 
			 Manager 1,871 
			 Other Medical Occupations 1,356 
			 Systems Analyst 1,284 
			 Manager (Unspecified) 998 
			 Other IT Related Occupation 905 
			 Accountant 899 
			 Others 39,695 
		
	
	
		2000
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Nurse 15,040 
			 Other Managerial Related Occupations 14,971 
			 Other IT Related Occupations 14,971 
			 Other Financial Occupations 4,405 
			 Other Engineering Occupations 4,346 
			 System Analyst 3,606 
			 Other Health/Medical Occupations 3,347 
			 Researcher 3,246 
			 Software Engineer 3,006 
			 Accountant 2,531 
			 Others 21,417 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Nurse 24,263 
			 Other Managerial Related Occupations 13,308 
			 Other IT Related Occupations 9,220 
			 Teacher (School/College) 5,880 
			 Software Engineer 5,603 
			 Other Engineering Occupations 4,555 
			 System Analyst 4,435 
			 Other Financial Occupations 4,421 
			 Researcher 3,931 
			 Other Health/Medical Occupations 3,801 
			 Others 37,970 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			 Nurse 28,642 
			 Other Managerial Related Occupations 12,670 
			 Teacher (School/College) 8,353 
			 Other Health/Medical Occupations 7,004 
			 Other IT Related Occupations 6,935 
			 Software Engineer 6,768 
			 Chef 5,724 
			 Other Engineering Occupations 5,140 
			 Researcher 4,140 
			 Analyst Programmer 4,008 
			 Others 42,951 
		
	
	
		2003(70)
		
			 Occupation Total number issued 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Nurse 22,055 
			 Other Managerial Related Occupations 10,049 
			 Other Health/Medical Occupations 7,711 
			 Chef 5,723 
			 Teacher (School/College) 5,342 
			 Other IT Related Occupations 5,146 
			 Software Engineer 3,905 
			 Other Engineering Occupations 3,519 
			 Researcher 3,098 
			 Other Financial Occupations 2,927 
			 Others 35,510 
		
	
	(70) To 30 September 2003.

Work Permits

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were awarded to health workers (a) from each of the top 10 countries of origin and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The tables provide figures for the number of permits granted to healthcare professionals between 1995 and 2003 (the period for which information is available). The tables give details of the number of applications approved for each of the top 10 countries of origin and the total of approved applications for each year.
	
		Health and medical permit applications approved— top 10 countries of origin and total approved applications by year: 1995
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 India 209 
			 Mauritius 157 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 151 
			 Nigeria 116 
			 United States of America 112 
			 South Africa 102 
			 Australia 100 
			 Zimbabwe 76 
			 Pakistan 68 
			 Malaysia 57 
			 Total 1,623 
		
	
	
		1996
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 India 276 
			 Mauritius 200 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 192 
			 South Africa 190 
			 Australia 189 
			 Zimbabwe 146 
			 Nigeria 133 
			 United States of America 127 
			 Pakistan 96 
			 Malaysia 82 
			 Total 2,281 
		
	
	
		1997
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 420 
			 Australia 357 
			 India 318 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 198 
			 Nigeria 196 
			 United States of America 187 
			 Mauritius 162 
			 Zimbabwe 142 
			 Pakistan 112 
			 Canada 102 
			 Total 3,120 
		
	
	
		1998
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 753 
			 India 457 
			 Australia 438 
			 Nigeria 338 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 278 
			 United States of America 232 
			 Zimbabwe 225 
			 New Zealand 192 
			 Mauritius 187 
			 Malaysia 178 
			 Total 4,743 
		
	
	
		1999
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 South Africa 2,024 
			 Philippines 1,770 
			 India 916 
			 Australia 720 
			 Nigeria 688 
			 Zimbabwe 581 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 501 
			 United States of America 376 
			 Malaysia 272 
			 New Zealand 259 
			 Total 10,736 
		
	
	
		2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 6,592 
			 South Africa 2,880 
			 India 1,939 
			 Zimbabwe 1,149 
			 Nigeria 1,046 
			 Australia 827 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 471 
			 United States of America 401 
			 Pakistan 391 
			 New Zealand 390 
			 Total 19,961 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 10,017 
			 India 4,137 
			 South Africa 4,132 
			 Zimbabwe 1,959 
			 Nigeria 1,329 
			 Australia 1,097 
			 Pakistan 799 
			 Ghana 565 
			 Peoples Republic of China 539 
			 New Zealand 488 
			 Total 30,576 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 1 1,143 
			 India 6,482 
			 South Africa 5,727 
			 Zimbabwe 2,647 
			 Nigeria 1,814 
			 Australia 1,241 
			 Pakistan 861 
			 Peoples Republic of China 713 
			 Ghana 631 
			 Bulgaria 599 
			 Total 38,457 
		
	
	
		2003(71)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Philippines 8,749 
			 India 7,367 
			 South Africa 4,422 
			 Zimbabwe 2,050 
			 Nigeria 1,128 
			 Australia 1,034 
			 Peoples Republic of China 732 
			 Pakistan 723 
			 Ghana 653 
			 Bulgaria 532 
			 Total 33,058 
		
	
	(71) Figures are only available for the period January to September 2003.

Zimbabwe

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sought asylum from Zimbabwe in the last 12 months; how many applications (a) succeeded and (b) failed; how many failed applicants have been removed; and how many were white Zimbabwean farmers in each case.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 1 February 2004
	The following tables show the number of asylum applications, initial decisions and appeal outcomes between October 2002 and September 2003 and the number of removals between October 2002 and June 2003, the latest published figures available, for nationals of Zimbabwe. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. Appeals do not necessarily relate to refusals of grants of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave made in the same period. Removals do not necessarily relate to initial decisions or appeal outcomes made in the same period.
	Information on the ethnic origin or occupation of asylum applicants is unavailable. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum applications, initial decisions on asylum applications, appeal outcomes and removals by nationality is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February.
	
		Asylum applications(72) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions(73), October 2002 to September 2003, nationals of Zimbabwe -- Principal applicants
		
			 Decisions 
			  Applications  Grants of: 
			 Zimbabwe Total Port In country Total decisions Asylum ELR HP DL Total refusals 
		
		
			 2002  
			 October 1,455 1,170 280 705 275 10 n/a n/a 420 
			 November 965 610 360 855 315 10 n/a n/a 530 
			 December 320 50 270 770 295 10 n/a n/a 465 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 495 60 430 400 125 5 n/a n/a 270 
			 February 285 70 215 295 85 * n/a n/a 210 
			 March 295 85 210 490 135 * n/a n/a 350 
			 April 335 80 260 310 90 n/a — 5 215 
			 May 230 75 155 430 95 n/a 5 * 330 
			 June 250 55 190 405 90 n/a — * 315 
			 July 285 55 230 285 50 n/a — 5 230 
			 August 185 25 160 270 35 n/a — * 235 
			 September 240 60 180 345 50 n/a — 5 290 
			 October 2002 to September 2003 total 5,335 2,395 2,940 5,560 1,640 40 5 15 3,865 
		
	
	(72) Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2.
	(73) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	Note:
	n/a not applicable.
	
		Outcome of appeals(74) , (75) determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, October 2002 to September 2003, nationals of Zimbabwe -- Number of principal appellants
		
			   Appeals determined by adjudicators(75) 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			 Zimbabwe Total Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined 
		
		
			 2002
			 October 285 105 37 160 57 20 7 
			 November 255 90 35 150 59 15 6 
			 December 265 100 38 155 59 5 3 
			 
			 2003
			 January 300 85 28 205 68 15 4 
			 February 205 70 34 125 60 10 5 
			 March 310 100 32 195 63 15 6 
			 April 380 115 31 250 66 10 3 
			 May 405 115 29 265 65 25 6 
			 June 315 95 30 205 64 20 6 
			 July 405 145 36 245 60 15 4 
			 August 305 70 23 220 72 15 5 
			 September 400 105 26 280 70 15 4 
			 October 2002 to September 2003 total 3,830 1,195 31 2,450 64 185 5 
		
	
	(74) Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages). Figures may not add up due to independent rounding. Data on appeal outcomes by nationality in this table are derived from electronic sources.
	(75) Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	
		Removals and voluntary(76) departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): October 2002 to June 2003(77) , (78) , (79)
		
			 Zimbabwe Number 
		
		
			 2002  
			 October 10 
			 November 10 
			 December 10 
			   
			 2003  
			 January * 
			 February 5 
			 March 10 
			 April 5 
			 May 5 
			 June 5 
			 Total 55 
		
	
	(76) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(77) Figures rounded to the nearest five with * denoting 1 or 2 and may not sum to total due to rounding.
	(78) Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.
	(79) Provisional figures.

Zimbabwe

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the removal of failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 February 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in January 2002 a suspension of removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. This was in response to concerns about the serious deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe in the build-up to the presidential election held in March that year. We did not, at that time, regard it as unsafe to return failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, but in view of the rapidly changing conditions we considered that it would be appropriate not to enforce returns.
	The Government's position is, as it has been since January 2002, that each asylum (and human rights) claim made by a Zimbabwean national will be considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Each application is considered against the background of the latest available country information including that obtained from and through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	We do of course recognise that conditions in Zimbabwe are such that there are individuals who are able to demonstrate a need for international protection. Where they meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 convention, asylum is granted. There may also be individuals whose circumstances make them particularly vulnerable and who would engage our obligations under the ECHR. Where this is the case these individuals will be granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.
	In the first nine months of last year, we granted asylum to 755 Zimbabweans and granted other forms of protection to 30 others. These statistics show that we are giving protection to the significant number of people who are found to be in need of it.
	If an application is refused, there will be a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities against that decision. Should a claim be refused and any appeal be unsuccessful that means that, for that individual, return to Zimbabwe would be safe. That is why we consider it reasonable to expect an individual in that position to leave voluntarily.
	However, although it would be safe for failed asylum seekers to return to Zimbabwe, our view at present is that in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe, it would be inappropriate forcibly to return them at this time. The exceptions we would make to that policy are in cases where a failed asylum seeker had a serious criminal record or their presence in the United Kingdom was not otherwise conducive to the public good. In such circumstances enforced return to Zimbabwe would be considered by Ministers on a case by case basis.
	The policy remains under continuous review.

HEALTH

Road Safety

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study of the effect of time delay in summoning help on fatalities and serious injuries following road crashes.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's objective is to save more lives by providing faster, more responsive emergency ambulance services, with better trained staff; and to deliver improved patient assessment and treatment while making more use of technology.
	Immediately life-threatening emergency calls (Category A) should be responded to 75 per cent. of the time within eight minutes, irrespective of location. Clinical evidence shows that achievement of the 75 per cent. standard could save as many as 1,800 lives each year.
	Other emergency calls that are not life threatening should be responded to 95 per cent. of the time within 14 minutes in urban areas and 19 minutes in rural areas.
	The latest information about ambulance performance is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002–03". Copies of the bulletin have been placed in the Library.

Acute Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has published to ensure that patients who have received specialist acute care are referred for aftercare to a hospital close to the patients' homes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: In January 2003, the Department published a good practice guide; "Discharge from hospital: pathway, process and practice". This puts the patient and their carer at the heart of the process for discharge from acute hospital care to other forms of care. February 2003 guidance on reconfiguration, "Keeping the NHS Local", also emphasises the need to expand the range of local options available from providers across the whole health and social care system.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the areas that will start screening newborn children for medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, broken down by primary care trust.

Stephen Ladyman: Six laboratories in England are screening newborn children for medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency for 24 months. This is the first stage of a five-year programme to assess the potential impact of screening. The pilot covers children born in and around Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, parts of London and South East counties.

"Agenda for Change"

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the evaluation undertaken so far by his Department into the pilot trials of "Agenda for Change".

John Hutton: The United Kingdom Health Departments, national health service unions and NHS employer representatives are reviewing the emerging evidence from the 12 "Agenda for Change" early implementer sites. The conclusions from this review should be known from late spring. Some emerging lessons from the early implementer sites, designed to support other NHS organisations in their preparatory work, are available on the web-sites of the Department of Health and NHS Modernisation Agency.

Anaesthetists

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the future demand for anaesthetists in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority area following the introduction of the European Working Time Directive; and if he will make a statement on meeting the demand.

Melanie Johnson: The Working Time Directive (WTD) is an integral part of modernising and improving services at all levels. Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for planning for implementation by national health service trusts of the WTD for doctors in training from August 2004, as part of their overall NHS planning.
	It is for local organisations to determine the level of staff needed to implement the WTD and to deliver a quality service. Priority will be given to trusts facing WTD challenges in the allocation of an additional 1,500 locally funded specialist registrar training opportunities, subject to educational approval being obtained.
	Figures from the September 2002 Department of Health census show that, in the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA, there were 272 staff with a specialty in anaesthetics. Of these 138 were consultants. As part of the local delivery plans, the local health economy is planning an increase to 176.48 whole time equivalent consultants by 31 March 2006.
	In addition to recruiting increased numbers of consultants, the NHS in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear is looking at new and innovative ways to provide services. This includes the implementation of the non-medical anaesthetics practitioner role at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, which involves recruiting non-medical anaesthetic personnel from overseas.

Asthma

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asthma sufferers had their condition reviewed at least once in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The question of the frequency of patient review is a purely clinical one and will depend on the circumstances of the individual patient.
	The new general medical services contract significantly benefits patients by improving the quality of care and widening the range of services available at general practitioners' surgeries.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Rosie Winterton: There are no recorded instances.

Capital Investment (Newcastle)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) planned and (b) committed new capital investment programmes undertaken in the Newcastle Primary Care Trust area by the (i) Newcastle Primary Care Trust, (ii) Newcastle Hospitals Trust, (iii) Neuro Rehabilitation Trust, (iv) Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside Trust and (v) Northgate and Prudhoe Trust since 1997–98, including PFI financed projects.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Planned and committed capital investment programmes in the area covered by Newcastle Primary Care Trust since 1997–98 are as follows.
	1. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust
	Planned
	A major private finance initiative (PFI) development, costing £220 million, will result in the transfer of acute services from Newcastle General Hospital to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and Freeman Hospital. This will include a new cancer and renal care centre at the Freeman Hospital. At the RVI, there will be a new accident and emergency department, with all of the vital clinical supporting services accommodated together (for example, traumatic orthopaedics, neurosciences, diagnostic imaging and critical care), and a new children's wing. The Freeman Hospital developments are scheduled to open in mid-2006 and an opening date of late 2007 is scheduled for the developments at the RVI.
	Committed/completed
	A new children's intensive care unit and fracture clinic was opened in spring 2002 at a cost of £3 million.
	A new 17-bed critical care unit at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle was completed in 2003 at a cost of £4.5 million.
	New facilities for cleft lip and palate services were developed during 2002–03 at a cost of £1.4 million.
	The regional neurosciences centre at Newcastle General Hospital was improved and upgraded during 2002–03 at a cost of £1.2 million.
	Facilities for dermatology patients were upgraded at the RVI during 2002–03, at a cost of £1.2 million.
	A new energy centre at the RVI, costing £6.9 million and funded through the PFI, was opened during 2003.
	A pharmacy manufacturing and stores scheme opened at the RVI during 2O03 at a cost of £8.6 million.
	A new antenatal clinic opened at the RVI during 2003. This was developed at a cost of £5.7 million.
	Work has started on a multi-storey car park, funded through the PFI, costing £8 million, for completion in the autumn.
	2. Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust
	Planned
	A £20 million Northern neuro disability centre is to be developed at Walkergate through the PFI. This is scheduled for completion in 2006 and will bring together current services at Hunters Moor Hospital, Newcastle, the Janie Heppell Unit and Annexe at Prudhoe Hospital and the Sanderson Centre and Hartside Unit at St. Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle. It will provide services for people with neuro disabilities caused by disease, illness or accident.
	3. Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Trust NHS Trust
	Planned
	A £20 million development is planned at St. Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle to improve adult medium and low secure forensic psychiatry accommodation and provide a new personality disorder unit. This is scheduled for completion in 2007.
	Committed/completed
	A rehabilitation unit at St. Nicholas Hospital was reprovided in 2002 at a cost of £1.2 million, as well as accommodation for the neuropsychiatry service, at a cost of £2 million.
	4. Newcastle Primary Care Trust
	Committed
	More than £5 million is to be spent using NHS local investment finance trust (LIFT) to provide modern health centres in Kenton, Walker and Brunton Park. This is part of a scheme that will eventually transform more than 25 outdated health centres and community facilities across Newcastle and North Tyneside.
	In a separate scheme, a new doctors' surgery in the west end of Newcastle is being developed at a cost of £2 million. This is being done in partnership between Prospect Medical Group and Prime, a private sector development. Work started last year and was scheduled for completion in February 2004.
	Planned
	As above—the LIFT project will eventually result in major improvements to more than 25 health centres across Newcastle and North Tyneside.

Cardiac Care

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people from each primary care trust area in England received cardiac treatment at Brighton hospitals in the most recent year for which information is available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Information on number of people from each primary care trust (PCT) area in England who have received cardiac treatment at Brighton hospitals, is shown in the table. The latest information available is for 2002–03.
	
		Cardiac procedures (OPCS4 codes K01-K71). All operation count of Episodes. Finished admission Episodes—For Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust by PCT of residence. NHS hospitals in England, 2002–03
		
			  PCT of residence Total episodes 
		
		
			 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 938 
			 5LT Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 470 
			 5L8 Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT 438 
			 5FK Mid-Sussex PCT 420 
			 5LR Eastbourne Downs PCT 344 
			 5FH Bexhill and Rother PCT 184 
			 5DG Isle of Wight PCT 158 
			 5FJ Hastings and St. Leonards PCT 153 
			 5MC Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT 149 
			 5KQ East Surrey PCT 103 
			 5KV Poole PCT 97 
			 5MA Crawley PCT 65 
			 5L9 Western Sussex PCT 57 
			 5FN South and East Dorset PCT 43 
			 5CE Bournemouth PCT 28 
			 5L2 Maidstone Weald PCT 23 
			 5KP East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT 22 
			 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 19 
			 5FD East Hampshire PCT 12 
			 5LX Fareham and Gosport PCT 12 
			 5HT Dudley South PCT 11 
			 5M3 Walsall PCT 10 
			 5CM Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT 9 
			 5FE Portsmouth City PCT 7 
			 5HV Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT 6 
			 5CD North Dorset PCT 6 
			 5MH Rowley Regis and Tipton PCT 6 
			 5DQ Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT * 
			 5FP South West Dorset PCT * 
			 5FF South West Kent PCT * 
			 5M1 South Birmingham PCT * 
			 5L5 Guildford and Waverley PCT * 
			 5MW North Birmingham PCT * 
			 5MN South Western Staffordshire PCT * 
			 5MJ Wednesbury and West Bromwich PCT * 
			 5L7 Woking PCT * 
			 5DR Wyre Forest PCT * 
			 5LL Ashford PCT * 
			 5GD Bedford PCT * 
			 5AX Bexley PCT * 
			 5G6 Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT * 
			 5MY Eastern Birmingham PCT * 
			 5LN East Kent Coastal PCT * 
			 5MG Oldbury and Smethwick PCT * 
			 5D1 Solihull PCT * 
			 5MT South Worcestershire PCT * 
			 5L4 Swale PCT * 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT * 
			 5D2 West Lincolnshire PCT * 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT * 
			 5GE Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT * 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT * 
			 5JG Bristol South and West PCT * 
			 5LM Canterbury and Coastal PCT * 
			 5D4 Carlisle and District PCT * 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT * 
			 5HX Ealing PCT * 
			 5A8 Greenwich PCT * 
			 5A4 Havering PCT * 
			 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT * 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT * 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT * 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT * 
			 5D3 Lincolnshire South West Teaching PCT * 
			 5L3 Medway PCT * 
			 5E9 Mid-Hampshire PCT * 
			 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT * 
			 5AP Newark and Sherwood PCT * 
			 5D7 Newcastle PCT * 
			 5A1 New Forest PCT * 
			 5DL Reading PCT * 
			 5MR Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT * 
			 5KK Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT * 
			 5LP Shepway PCT * 
			 5DJ South Wiltshire PCT * 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT * 
			 5GN Uttlesford PCT * 
			 5GV Watford and Three Rivers PCT * 
			 5LC Westminster PCT * 
			 5DN Wokingham PCT * 
			 59999 Unknown 61 
			  Total 3,851 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Finished admission episodes—A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. All Operations count of Episodes—These figures represent a count of all FCEs where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (4 prior to 2002–03) operation fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record.
	3. Low Numbers—Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with an asterisk.
	4. Grossing—Figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Care Homes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of differences in fee levels for care home places in different parts of the country.

Stephen Ladyman: Independent data published in July 2003 found that the number of care home places available nationally exceeded demand by 10,000. Where there are local capacity issues to be addressed, it is for local councils to assess the need for care home places in their areas in the light of local circumstances and preferences and to commission services to meet assessed needs. They should act in consultation with people needing services and local providers.

Children's NHS Framework

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Children's National Health Service Framework; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The national service framework for children, young people and maternity services will be published later this year.

Clinical Negligence

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the national health service resulting from clinical negligence was in each year from 1990 to 2002.

Rosie Winterton: The total cost of medical negligence in each year since 1996, as prepared by the National Audit Office and presented in the National Health Service Summarised Accounts for England, is in the table. Information for the period 1990 to 1995 was not collected centrally.
	
		£ millions
		
			  In year expenditure 
		
		
			 1996–97 £235 
			 1997–98 £144 
			 1998–99 £221 
			 1999–2000 £373 
			 2000–01 £415 
			 2001–02 £446 
		
	
	Note:
	Changes to accounting policies imposed by Her Majesty's Treasury over the years mean that these amounts are not directly comparable.

Community Health Councils

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for Health 
	(1)  how many former community health council premises which are empty, payments for (a) leases, (b) rent, (c) rates and (d) security costs are still being made;
	(2)  what the estimated cost is of (a) maintaining and (b) securing empty community health council premises until alternative uses have been found.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently 96 vacant community health council offices and the estimated cost for rent, rates, services and security is £1.62 million per annum. A number of these premises are under offer or are awaiting sale or assignment to other bodies, including national health service organisations, and the position will change as these progress.

Community Health Councils

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of abolishing community health councils.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to give the exact costs for abolishing community health councils (CHCs). We have estimated the running costs for CHCs from 1 April to 1 December 2003 and for a residual period up to March 2004 at £15 million. Additionally, redundancy costs are estimated at £14.9 million and the estimated costs for rent, rates, servicing and security of vacant CHC offices is £1.62 million per annum. A number of these premises are under offer or are awaiting sale or assignment to other bodies, including national health service organisations, and the position will change as these progress.

Nappies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government is taking to promote the use of reusable nappies in hospitals.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government firmly believes that women and their families should be given information on the use of both re-usable and disposable nappies to make an informed choice. The Pregnancy Book and Birth to Five are two comprehensive information booklets produced by the Department of Health, which are given free to all first time mothers. Both publications give detailed information on both reusable and disposable nappies, including information about nappy laundering services, and suggest that parents ask their midwife to show them how to fold/pin terry nappies if they decide to use them.
	It is for individual units and trusts to decide on the practicalities of promoting the use of terry nappies in their own maternity units.

Nappies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on the (a) purchase and (b) disposal of (i) disposable nappies and (ii) reusable nappies in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Health Service provides very few nappies for newborn babies; mothers are encouraged to provide their own nappies. The main exception is extremely premature babies, for whom commercially available nappies are too large. NHS-bought nappies are therefore provided.
	The vast majority of nappies purchased by the NHS are provided for children with disabilities who are incontinent. We do not have central information on the purchase of reusable nappies.
	During the financial year 2002–03, the NHS bought approximately 12 million disposable nappies, with a value of £1.5 million.

Continence Wear

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the (a) provision, (b) collection and (c) disposal of continence wear to older children and adults cost the NHS in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: Information in the form requested is not available centrally. However, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) estimates that over the past 12 months National Health Service trusts have spent approximately £23 million on disposable products and £150 thousand on reusable products. Additionally, PASA estimates that approximately £22 million was spent by the NHS on home delivery products for people with incontinence. Together, this gives a total spend of around £45 million by the NHS on continence products in the last 12 months.

Crisis Resolution Teams

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the crisis resolution teams that are operational are open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22 January 2004, Official Report, column 1425W, to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe).

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total amount of reimbursement from social services departments to the NHS for delayed discharges is in the current financial year for (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Data on legal liabilities for reimbursement charges are not available centrally at this time.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of trained dentists living in the UK as refugees; and what proportion he estimates are working in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not held centrally on the number of refugees working as dentists in the national health service. We are aware that the British Dental Association and the Refugee Council have a database containing details of 60 dentists who are refugees. These dentists are preparing for the General Dental Council's international qualifying examination (IQE) to become eligible to practise in the United Kingdom. We are considering how dentists with overseas qualifications could be given more support with the additional training they require to take the IQE and equip themselves to practise in the NHS.

Dentistry

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down the funding targeted at primary care trusts where access to NHS dentists is low, announced on 18 September 2003, by (a) region and (b) primary care trust.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 January 2004
	On 18 September 2003 we announced new investment totalling £65.2 million for dentistry. This consisted of £35 million capital for dental access and quality, £30 million for dental information technology and £200,000 for developing dental leadership. This was on top of revenue funding we announced in August of £9 million for targeted support on dental access and £1 million for organisation development. We subsequently announced on 25 November further revenue funding of £15 million to support access for patients to a modernised national health service dental service, bringing the total of new funding announced this year for dentistry to £90.2 million.
	The £30 million investment in IT will facilitate integration of dental practices with wider NHS information technology systems and will support local contracting. The IT investment and solutions for dentistry consistent with other NHS information technology initiatives are being taken forward within the national programme for IT.
	The funding of £200,000 for developing dental leadership is aimed at strategic health authority level to support primary care trusts (PCTs) in delivering the modernisation agenda for dentistry.
	The organisational development funds of £1 million are being distributed in line with advice from strategic health authorities (SHAs). They are intended to help PCTs, local dental committees and dentists to prepare for the change in the way dental services are commissioned. £0.3 million has been distributed for 2003–04 and the remaining £0.7 million will be distributed for use in 2004–05.
	The balance of £59 million is intended to support dental access and quality as follows:
	£9 million is for the NHS dentistry support team that has been set up to work with those areas where it is hardest to find a NHS dentist. These funds are being used in a targeted way to support local action plans for improving access to dentistry. The NHS support team has identified 16 PCTs with specific dental access issues. Funding for these PCTs, which are shown in the list, will take into account the challenge faced by the individual PCTs and the potential benefit of the proposals in the dental action plan that each of the challenged PCTs is developing. Draft plans are now starting to arrive. The team allocated £200,000 in 2003–04, and will be increasing the pace of allocations early in 2004–05, based on the plans currently in preparation.
	£35 million capital funds are to enable PCTs to invest in primary care premises and facilities to improve access and quality. These funds will be distributed on a fair-shares basis at SHA level and then on a targeted basis to PCTs on the advice of the SHAs. The fair shares for SHAs are shown in the table. The bulk of the funds will be spent in 2004–05 to allow SHAs and PCTs to plan for its investment.
	£15 million revenue funding for 2O04–05 to support access will also be allocated on a fair-shares basis at SHA level and, on the advice of the SHA, on a targeted basis to PCTs. The SHA fair shares allocations of these funds are shown in the table.
	Guidance for PCTs on commissioning NHS dentistry, including the allocation of £35 million capital and £15 million revenue to support access, quality and choice was issued on 15 January. The guidance makes it clear that access remains a key priority in the run up to the new arrangements for dentistry from April 2005.
	PCTs which have been identified for support from the NHS Dentistry Support Team
	Fareham and Gosport PCT
	Isle of Wight PCT
	New Forest PCT
	West Gloucestershire PCT
	North East Lincolnshire PCT
	Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT
	Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT
	Northumbria Care Trust
	Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT
	Hyndburn and Ribble PCT
	Blackburn with Darwen PCT
	Morecambe Bay PCT
	Shropshire County PCT
	Telford and Wrekin PCT
	South West Staffordshire PCT
	Central Cheshire PCT
	
		£000
		
			 Strategic Health Authority Capital Revenue 
		
		
			 England 35,000 15,000 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 1,396 598 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 1,039 446 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 1,771 761 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,853 796 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 894 384 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,411 602 
			 Dorset and Somerset 814 349 
			 Essex 1,071 458 
			 Greater Manchester 1,987 852 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1,148 492 
			 Kent and Medway 1,071 459 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 962 412 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,416 607 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 1,073 46O 
			 North Central London 961 413 
			 North East London 1,297 556 
			 North West London 1,344 575 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,089 466 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 988 425 
			 South East London 1,165 499 
			 South West London 863 370 
			 South West Peninsula 1,092 469 
			 South Yorkshire 981 420 
			 Surrey and Sussex 1,689 723 
			 Thames Valley 1,285 550 
			 Trent 1,813 777 
			 West Midlands South 1,013 433 
			 West Yorkshire 1,514 648

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress of Options for Change in improving NHS Dentistry, with particular reference to (a) Portsmouth and (b) South Hampshire.

Rosie Winterton: We are committed to rebuilding and restoring national health service dentistry to improve oral health. The report, "NHS Dentistry: Options for Change", published in 2002, set out the ideas and principles behind the reform of NHS dentistry. Central to these changes are the aims of:
	local commissioning of services offering care which is responsive to local need;
	moving away from the restrictions of the detailed and inflexible existing fee-for-item system and giving dentists the opportunity to practise more preventive dentistry;
	improving the patient experience;
	improving access to NHS dentistry.
	New legislation in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 will enable these changes and will underpin a modernised, high-quality primary dental service, properly integrated with the rest of the NHS. The aim is to deliver better access to services; better working lives for dentists and their teams, better oral health and an improved patient experience. From 1 April 2005, primary care trusts (PCTs) will assume a new responsibility for commissioning dental services supported by the £1.2 billion resources currently held centrally.
	The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act also provides for the replacement of the existing Dental Practice Board by a new special health authority for England and Wales with a wider remit for modernisation and change. This is likely to happen in 2005. In the meantime, shadow arrangements are in place to work in partnership with the existing Dental Practice Board to lead the modernisation process and provide support to PCTs and dentists to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. Discussions are also on-going with the dental profession on the base contract, which will replace the item of service arrangements.
	In Hampshire, each PCT has identified a dental management lead who has been working closely with the strategic health authority dental lead and the Department of Health to prepare dental action plans for the transition to local commissioning of dentistry. In agreement with the Department, arrangements have been made for some dental practices that wish to do so—including one in Portsmouth—to act as pilots for future contracting arrangements.

Dietary Strategy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's strategy is for reducing (a) salt levels in food and (b) the prevalence of people having excess salt in their diet.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson) on Tuesday 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 332W.
	On Tuesday 3 February 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a period of consultation on a public health white paper. This will provide the overarching framework for work that the Department of Health and other Government Departments are already engaged in. The consultation aims to engage the public, the media, industry, voluntary groups and health professionals in a wide-ranging debate about how the nation can best tackle issues like obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted infections.

Directly Funded Equipment

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the money set aside for directly funded equipment has been taken up by local authorities (a) so far this financial year and (b) in the last financial year.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 29 January 2004
	I assume that the hon. Member is referring to funding for community equipment services. These are funded in the following manner: all local health and social services have historic funding streams for these services. At the beginning of the initiative to integrate and modernise these services we announced that we were increasing baseline funding to the National Health Service and councils to enable them to participate. We gave the NHS an extra £105 million over the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 and made a substantial addition to councils' personal social services allocation (following normal practice, the amount of the latter was not announced). Councils with social services responsibilities are also now receiving even more funding for community equipment through the systems and access capacity grant, starting with £7.6 million this year, with considerable rises due in 2004–05 and 2005–06. In all cases, local service commissioners decide how to use that funding to meet the needs of their local populations and this element of their spending is not monitored centrally.

Disciplinary Procedures

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) NHS hospital doctors, (b) NHS consultants and (c) NHS general practitioners are suspended on disciplinary grounds; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	Discipline for National Health Service trust clinicians is a matter for local managers and disciplinary action will take a variety of forms, NHS trusts are not required to collect this information and it is not collected centrally.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) must notify the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Special Health Authority) when they suspend or lift a suspension from a general medical practitioner. Thirty GPs are currently suspended by PCTs.

Disciplinary Procedures

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average time taken to (a) investigate and (b) resolve cases regarding the suspension of NHS (i) hospital doctors, (ii) consultants and (iii) general practitioners was in the latest year for which figures are available; what percentage of those investigations found in favour of (A) those making the complaint and (B) the person suspended; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total cost is in (a) salaries and national insurance contributions and (b) other costs arising from (i) NHS hospital doctors, (ii) NHS consultants and (iii) NHS general practitioners currently suspended; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	This information is not held centrally.

Disciplinary Procedures

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the procedures for investigating the cases of suspended NHS hospital doctors, consultants and general practitioners.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The Department issued a mandatory framework, (HSC 2003/012) Maintaining High Professional standards in the Modern NHS, for the handling of concerns about doctors and dentists employed in the National Health Service, on 29 December 2003. The procedures a primary care trust must follow are set out in the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, as amended; the NHS (General Medical Services Supplementary List) Regulations 2001, as amended; and the NHS (Personal Medical Services) (Services List) and the (General Medical Services Supplementary List) and (General Medical Services) Amendment Regulations 2003.

Disciplinary Procedures

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the kinds of complaints which cause NHS hospital doctors, consultants and general practitioners to be suspended.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	Under the Restriction of Practice and Exclusion from Work Directions 2003, formal exclusion of one or more clinicians must be used only where there is a need to protect the interests of patients or other staff pending the outcome of a full investigation of: allegations of misconduct, concerns about the lack of capability or poor performance; or the presence of the practitioner in the workplace is likely to hinder the investigation.
	Full consideration should be given to whether the practitioner could continue in or (in cases of immediate exclusion) return to work in a limited capacity or in an alternative, possibly non-clinical role, pending the resolution of the case.
	Regulations permit primary care trusts to suspend general medical practitioners from their medical, supplementary medical or services lists if they consider this is necessary to protect patients or is otherwise in the public interest. This is an interim measure pending the outcome of regulatory body or criminal investigation, or while they consider serious matters which may lead to the practitioner's removal on suitability, efficiency or fraud grounds.

Drug Addicts

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many addicts in England and Wales are maintained on prescribed (a) heroin and (b) methadone; and at what average annual cost for each of those prescriptions.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 26 January 2004
	There are approximately 450 drug misusers in England being maintained on prescribed heroin. The estimated annual cost per patient of maintaining a drug misuser on heroin is £12,000 per patient.
	We do not have figures centrally on the numbers of drug misusers being maintained on methadone. The estimated annual cost per patient of maintaining a drug misuser on oral methadone is £3,000.

EU Accession States (Migration)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) plans he has made and (b) resources he has assigned for the treatment of migrants from EU accession states from 1st May.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 February 2004
	Research for the Home Office does not suggest that the numbers of people who migrate from the new Member States of the European Union to the United Kingdom will be significant. Those that fall into the categories covered by Regulations (EEC) 1408/71 and 574/72—for example temporary visitors, certain pensioners and others—will have costs of any National Health Service treatment met by the person's country of insurance.

EU Accession States (Migration)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the NHS of migration from EU accession states.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 February 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) on 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 822W.

Family Planning/Reproductive Health Care

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring arrangements are being put in place by his Department to ensure that the advice provided by general practices which sign up to providing contraceptive services under the new general medical services contract (a) covers all methods of contraception and (b) is of a high standard.

Melanie Johnson: Regulations for the new general medical services contract set out a new contractual requirement that practices providing additional contraceptive services must give "advice about the full range of contraceptive methods" and "the referral as necessary for specialist sexual health services". This includes referral for the fitting of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants where these are not provided by the practice. In addition, practices will be rewarded through a quality and outcomes framework for having policies on emergency contraception and pre-conceptual (all other) contraception. Primary care trusts will be responsible for performance managing the contract.

Family Planning/Reproductive Health Care

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps the Government is taking to meet the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare's recommendation that there should be one full-time clinician in family planning and sexual and reproductive healthcare per 125,000 population;
	(2)  how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses are employed in family planning community clinics; and what steps the Government is taking to (i) recruit and (ii) retain (A) doctors and (B) nurses in such clinics.

Melanie Johnson: It is for individual primary care trusts and National Health Service trusts to determine how their services are configured and delivered in order to provide quality services. The NHS will continue to plan its future workforce requirements to address identified need. We are also ensuring through the Department's performance management measures that the creation of clinical posts is seen as a high priority. Also, the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare is represented on the contraceptive services group that has been established by the Department. Workforce is a key issue being addressed by this group. In 20O3–04, central funding was provided to support the implementation of four additional specialist registrar posts in family planning and reproductive health.
	The Department does not collect data on the numbers of doctors and nurses specifically employed in family planning community clinics (the medical and non-medical workforce census collects information annually on the number of doctors and nurses employed in the NHS, but cannot distinguish those working in family planning).

Family Planning/Reproductive Health Care

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to prioritise contraceptive services within strategic health authorities' local delivery plans;
	(2)  what steps his Department (a) has taken over the last 12 months and (b) plans to take over the next 12 months to prioritise contraceptive services within the NHS; and what impact such measures have had to date;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the role of the group of key experts on contraception referred to by the Under-Secretary for State of Health on 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 371WH.

Melanie Johnson: It is a key aim of both the Government's Sexual Health and HIV Strategy and Teenage Pregnancy Strategy to reduce unintended pregnancy rates. Provision of good quality contraceptive services is key in achieving this aim. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to ensure that comprehensive services are provided and the Department has issued them with guidance on how to commission these services.
	The Department has also convened a group of key experts, including representatives from the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Family Planning Association, to develop and implement an action plan to support the improvement of contraceptive services at local level.
	We are working with strategic health authorities to help raise the priority level of sexual health, including contraceptive services, within local delivery plans.

Flu Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on advertising the free influenza vaccine.

Melanie Johnson: £1,411,000.00 was spent on this year's flu advertising campaign.

Flu Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department undertook to find the most effective way of informing people about their eligibility for the free influenza vaccine.

Melanie Johnson: Each year, the Department conducts research before and after the advertising campaign to measure awareness among our target audience. Research has consistently proved television as the best media for advertising free flu vaccination.

Glenfield Hospital

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients at the Herschel Prins Low Secure Unit at the Glenfield Hospital site in Leicestershire have been found not to have mental health problems.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Glenfield Hospital

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of building the Herchel Prins Unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire; what its running costs were in the last financial year; and what this cost was per patient.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Glenfield Hospital

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have escaped from the Herschel Prins Unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire in the last year.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the procedure is for transferring general practitioner held records when a patient moves practices.

John Hutton: When a patient registers with a new general practitioner, the doctor will request the transfer of medical records via the primary care trust.

General Practitioners

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigation he has made of delays in transferring general practitioner records when a patient moves.

John Hutton: A survey conducted by the Department in 1997 showed that, on average, 85 per cent. of medical records were transferred within the timescale guidance issued by the Department. These targets are six weeks for routine cases and two working days for urgent cases.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the arrangements are for (a) setting, (b) regulating, (c) monitoring and (d) reporting on performance and clinical governance standards for (i) private agencies and (ii) NHS organisations providing out-of-hours GP services.

John Hutton: At present, all organisations providing out of hours—both private and not-for-profit—have to meet nationally set quality standards and report to primary care trusts (PCTs) on performance, including clinical governance.
	Under the new general medical services (GMS) contract, anyone who provides services out of hours, including individuals contracted by the PCT, and organisations, will need to meet national quality standards. These standards are currently under review by an expert group to make them an integral part of GMS and personal medical services contracting. Strategic health authorities will performance manage PCTs in their delivery of out of hours services.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners recruited through flexible career schemes were working as locums in the NHS before joining the scheme.

John Hutton: The most recent data available is from the June 2003 census, which showed that, of the 85 general practitioners who were counted as flexible career scheme doctors, 25 had last been counted in the census as a locum.

Haemophilia

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what access patients in the South West have to treatment that is in accordance with national standards for haemophilia care published in the National Service Specification for Haemophilia and Related Conditions in 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for the provision of a comprehensive care centre for haemophilia in the South West; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Our policy, "Shifting the Balance of Power", means that the local national health service has responsibility for planning and developing health services according to local needs and demands.
	In 2001, The Haemophilia Alliance produced a National Service Specification for a service that allows people with haemophilia the best care that can be made available. The Government welcomed this model service specification, which sets out clear standards of care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders. NHS commissioners of haemophilia services will find the document an invaluable resource when planning and developing services for patients.
	I understand that there are 10 haemophilia centres throughout the South West region, which provide a good range of services between them. The United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctor's Organisation (UKHCDO) is the body responsible for designating comprehensive care centres, and I am informed that the haemophilia centre directors in the South West are in regular contact with the chair of the UKHCDO about the provision of services in the South West.
	The following is a list of the Haemophilia Centres in the South West:
	Bath, Bristol (Infirmary and Children's) for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area
	Bournemouth/Poole, Dorchester, Taunton/Yeovil for the Dorset and Somerset SHA area
	Barnstaple, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro for the South West Peninsula SHA area.

Integrated Community Equipment Service Group

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the work programme for the Integrated Community Equipment Service Group for 2004.[R]

Stephen Ladyman: The integrating community equipment services team will continue to support local equipment services as they further develop their integration during 2004. The team members do this through:
	supporting regional networks of service leads and, during this year, they will aim to help the networks become self-sustaining
	visiting services, particularly those that appear to need extra help
	maintaining a popular and informative internet site: www.icesdoh.org/.

Joint Consultative Forum

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met his counterparts from the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament in the joint consultative forum.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has regular meetings with his counterparts from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Junior Doctors

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the protection of salary for junior doctors working at hospitals as part of a rotation, with particular reference to Great Ormond Street. [R]

John Hutton: Junior doctors receive a banding supplement reflecting the amount and intensity of their out of hours work. When junior doctors contract for a rotation they are made aware of the bandings of the posts they will be working in. As circumstances change, posts may be adjusted and rebanded and the pay for new entrants to such posts may reduce to a level commensurate with the work undertaken. However, for those already contracted to fill those posts, rotation pay protection (built into the national contract for all doctors in training) applies.
	National health service trusts are responsible for ensuring that appropriate rotation and salary arrangements are in place for junior doctors, in line with national guidance.
	Under those arrangements, there is regular monitoring to ensure that rotas are satisfactory, that junior doctors hours are within agreed limits and that safe services are provided.
	Great Ormond Street has these arrangements in place and policies and procedures under which any concerns can be raised and addressed.

Junior Doctors

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether hospitals are changing junior doctors' hours of work statistics to ensure that they conform to the (a) New Deal and (b) European Working Time Directive.[R]

John Hutton: Information collected on junior doctors' hours in the assessment of New Deal compliance, as required by their contract of employment, is based on information supplied by the junior doctors themselves. Before this data is collated centrally, it is validated by junior doctors at national health service trust level. We have no reason to suppose that these returns are anything but an accurate representation of the work situation. Information is not collected centrally on Working Time Directive compliance at trust level; this is a matter for the hospitals concerned.

Living Wills

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has issued to health authorities on dealing with patients' wishes as expressed in living wills.

Rosie Winterton: Guidance on advance refusals is included in the Department of Health's "Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment" published in March 2001. A copy of the guide has been placed in the Library and is also available from the Department of Health's website at http://www. dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/90/79/04019079.pdf

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 559W, on long-term care, if he will place in the Library copies of the survey and estimates by the Personal Social Services Research Unit referred to in the explanatory note.

Stephen Ladyman: In the explanatory note referred to in my answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 559W, the estimate of the proportion of privately funded older care home residents receiving disability benefits is from Netten A., Darton R. and Curtis L. (2002). Self-Funded Admissions to Care Homes. A report of research carried out by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Kent on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, (Department for Work and Pensions Research Report No. 159). A copy of this report is available in the Library.
	The estimate of private expenditure on private home care was obtained from PSSRU. It derives from research on projections of demand for long-term care for older people. A copy of a recent discussion paper on this PSSRU study—Comas-Herrera A., Pickard L., Wittenberg R. et al. (2003) Future demand for long-term care, 20O1 to 2031: projections of demand for older people in England, PSSRU discussion paper 1980—will be placed in the Library.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 559W, on long-term care, what the basis is of the assumption in the explanatory note that there are 58,000 privately funded residents of residential care homes in England.

Stephen Ladyman: The figure of 58,000 is an estimate in the absence of data on numbers of privately funded residents in residential care homes. There were around 120,000 older local authority supported residents in independent sector care homes in March 2003. The "PSSRU 1996 Survey of Care Homes for Elderly People", www.pssru.ac.uk/pdf/dp1423~2.pdf, found that around one third of older residents of independent sector residential care homes were privately funded. This suggests that an estimate of around 58,000 is reasonable.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1110W, on long-term care, whether the Department's proposals in response to the Royal Commission, including free nursing care and changes to the residential charging rules, will have changed these costs.

Stephen Ladyman: The estimated cost of £1.5 billion for England covers only the cost of free personal care and excludes the cost of free nursing care, as that has been implemented. The estimate would have been higher if free nursing care had been included. In principle, this also applies to the 12-week disregard of housing assets and the uprating of the capital limits which the Government announced in their response to the Royal Commission. The estimate of around 100,000 privately funded residents used in the calculation should in principle have been higher if these changes had not been implemented.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure fair treatment of ethnic minorities in NHS mental institutions.

Rosie Winterton: The specific and general duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places an onus on statutory bodies to identify and tackle racial discrimination faced by the black and minority ethnic community.
	In support of this for mental health services we have issued for consultation "Delivering Race Equality—A Framework for Action" which sets out what those planning, delivering and monitoring local primary care and mental health services need to do to improve services for users, relatives and carers from black and minority ethnic communities. This is backed up by a programme of work by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE).
	NIMHE has also issued "Engaging & Changing—Developing effective policy for the care and treatment of Black and minority ethnic detained patients". The document provides guidance in relation to the development of policies concerning the care and treatment of black and minority ethnic communities in the areas of ethnic monitoring, racial harassment, the use of interpreters and the provision of culturally appropriate care and staff training.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS mental health services have a written policy banning racial abuse.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Plan introduced an improving working lives standard in 2000 which makes it clear that every member of staff in the national health service is entitled to work in an organisation which can prove that it is investing in improving diversity and tackling discrimination and harassment. All NHS organisations including mental health trusts have to achieve the standard, which is a key performance indicator, part of the star rating system.
	In relation to tackling racial harassment an improving working lives toolkit "Improving Working Lives: Tackling Racial Harassment in the NHS—Good Practice Guidance" was issued in 2001. This guidance sets out key principles on tackling racial harassment in NHS employment.
	The need for local policies to deal with staff/patient and patient/patient racial harassment where patients have been detained under the Mental Health Act is highlighted in the National Institute for Mental Health document "Delivering Race Equality—A Framework for Action and Engaging and Changing—Developing effective policy for the care and treatment of Black and minority ethnic detained patients".

Mental Health

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in mental health institutions died in each of the last five years through (a) hanging, (b) hanging with the use of a non-collapsible curtain track and (c) hanging with the use of a collapsible curtain track.

Rosie Winterton: The total numbers of people who died in mental health institutions from hanging in each of the last five years for which figures are available (1997–2001) are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Deaths from hanging 
		
		
			 1997 57 
			 1998 44 
			 1999 51 
			 2000 36 
			 2001 36 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for hangings using non-collapsible and collapsible curtain tracks are not available.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which professionals make up an assertive outreach team.

Rosie Winterton: A detailed service specification for assertive outreach teams, which includes information on staffing requirements, is contained in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001), which is available from the Department's website at http://www. publications.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/implementationguide. htm and is also available in the Library.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the assertive outreach teams that are operational are multi-disciplinary.

Rosie Winterton: According to the Durham mental health service mapping database www.dur.ac.uk/service.mapping/amh), over 95 per cent. of assertive outreach teams, which are operational, are multi-disciplinary.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list which trusts depend on home treatment teams for additional cover to their assertive outreach teams.

Rosie Winterton: Information about the arrangements for clinical cover in teams is not captured centrally.
	The inter-relationship of teams and services and their working arrangements are local matters in the context of national guidance on standards of care, the evidence concerning best practice, and the targets set within the NHS Plan.
	Guidance on the configuration of teams and services is provided in the Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide, which is available from the Department's website at http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/implementationguide.htm and is also available in the Library.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many early intervention teams the National Service Framework for Mental Health recommends establishing.

Rosie Winterton: The "National Service Framework for Mental Health" (1999) set out standards for treatment and care for people with mental health problems, including two standards specifically concerned to ensure that each person with severe mental illness receives the range of mental health services they need. The NSF also set out evidence concerning the importance of early intervention for young people with the first sign of a psychosis.
	The "NHS Plan" (2000) provided extra investment by 2003–04 to fast-forward the NSF and set a target of 50 early intervention teams to be established by 2004 to ensure all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis receive the early and intensive support they need.
	Further details were set out in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001) which is available from the Department's website at http://www. dh.gov.uk, a copy of which has also been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total funding for mental health services was in the NHS in England in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 15 January 2004, Official Report, columns 857–58W.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 687W, on mental health, how many carer support workers are employed in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not centrally available. Arrangements are being made to centrally capture data on carer support workers in post by the end of the year.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the full complement of (a) early intervention, (b) assertive outreach and (c) crisis resolution teams to be established, as set out in the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

Rosie Winterton: The full complement of assertive outreach teams has been delivered.
	We expect local services to have plans in place to deliver the full complement of early intervention and crisis resolution teams by the end of the year as set out in the NHS Plan (2000).

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners have been (a) diagnosed with and (b) treated for mental health disorders in each year since 1997, broken down by prison establishment.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is not available in the form requested. A survey of psychiatric morbidity among prisoners in England and Wales in 1997, by the Office for National Statistics, showed that 90 per cent. of prisoners have at least one significant mental health problem, including personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse and drug dependence. Around 5,000 people in prison at any one time have a severe mental illness though they will not all be acutely ill.
	Prisons and their national health service primary care trust partners are responsible for assessing the health needs of their populations and developing services, including mental health services to meet those needs. NHS funded prison mental health in reach teams will be providing services in 90 prisons by March 2004.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on incidence of mental health disorders among ethnic minority prisoners.

Stephen Ladyman: In 1997 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) undertook a survey of "Psychiatric morbidity amongst prisoners in England and Wales". The report included a range of information on the prevalence of specific mental health problems in black and minority ethnic prisoners. A copy of the ONS study is available in the Library.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of mental health service (a) provision and (b) interventions in prisons.

Stephen Ladyman: The provision of national health service community-style mental health services will be in around 90 establishments by March 2004. An evaluation of the in-reach programme has been commissioned through the NHS forensic research and development programme and is expected to start shortly.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes are in place to ensure swift identification of prisoners with mental health disorders upon arrival at prison establishments; and which prison establishments operate such programmes.

Stephen Ladyman: Her Majesty's Prison Service and the Department of Health are working together to implement a revised reception health screening process by March 2004. The new process focuses explicitly on ensuring prompt and effective identification of individuals with mental health problems.
	The new reception screening arrangements are being introduced into the following establishments in England by March 2004: Durham, Eastwood Park, Feltham, Glen Parva, Holme House, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, New Hall, Wandsworth, Brixton, Bedford, Lewes, Preston, Styal, Wormwood Scrubbs, Woodhill, Dorchester, Exeter, Highpoint North, Lincoln, Norwich, Pentonville, Hull, Chelmsford, Nottingham, Hindley, Altcourse, Ashfield, Blakenhurst, Bristol, Brinsford, Castington, Gloucester, Leicester, Highdown, Birmingham, Forest Bank, Onley, Parkhurst, Shewsbury, Stoke Heath, Winchester, Elmley, Brockhill, Bullingtdon, Doncaster, Long Lartin, Lancaster Farms, Wetherby, Wakefield, Holloway, Belmarsh, Full Sutton, Huntercombe, Reading, Warren Hill, Werrington, Low Newton, Kirkham and Morton Hall.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which prisons operate permanent community mental health teams.

Stephen Ladyman: The specialist care of severely mentally ill prisoners is provided by mental health teams, which are staffed by national health service employees and broadly correspond to local community mental health teams. There are currently 90 such teams operating in the following establishments in England: Phase 1: (introduced during 2001–02): Belmarsh, Birmingham, Brixton, Bullwood Hall, Chelmsford, Durham, Eastwood Park, Feltham, Frankland, Holloway, Leeds, Leicester, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Winchester, Whitemoor, Woodhill and Wormwood Scrubs.
	Phase 2: (introduced during 2002–03): Ashfield, Bedford, Blakenhurst, Bristol, Brockhill, Dorchester, Exeter, Glen Parva, Holme House, Hull, Lewes, Lincoln, Liverpool, Long Lartin, Manchester, Moorland, New Hall, Norwich, Nottingham, Onley, Parkhurst, Portland, Preston, Rochester, Styal and Wakefield.
	Phase 3: (introduced during 2003-O4): Albany/Camp Hill, Altcourse, Aylesbury, Blantyre House, Brinsford, Buckley Hall, Bullingdon, Canterbury, Castington, Coldingly, Cookham Wood, Dartmoor, Deerbolt, Doncaster, Dovegate, Drake Hall, Elmley, Forest Bank, Foston Hall, Full Sutton, Garth, Gartree, Gloucester, Haverigg, Highdown, Highpoint North/Highpoint South, Hindley, Hollesley Bay/Warren Hill, Huntercombe, Kingston, Lancester Farms, Littlehay, Low Newton, Maidstone, Northallerton, Reading, Risley, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Stoke Heath, Swaleside, Swifen Hall, Thorn Cross, Werrington, Wetherby and Wolds.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed to treat mental health disorders in each prison establishment.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not available. Most healthcare staff working in prisons will be involved in some way in caring for individuals with mental health problems. By March 2004 we expect to meet the NHS Plan commitment for 300 additional staff to provide specialist community type mental health services to over 5,000 prisoners.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of mental health programmes in UK prisons was in each year since 1997, broken down by prison establishment.

Stephen Ladyman: In England the total amount allocated specifically to primary care trusts for national health service mental health services in prisons was £1,719,000 in 2O01–02; £3,685,000 in 2002–03 and £9,400,000 in 2003–04. A breakdown of this information, by prison, has been placed in the Library. We expect total expenditure on these services to double to around £20 million by 2O05–06.
	Mental health services for prisoners are also provided through Her Majesty's Prison Service, but the funding for these is not separately identified.

Mental Health

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mental health programmes are available to prisoners upon release from prison.

Rosie Winterton: Released prisoners can access the full range of mental health services available to the population in which they become resident. An important function of national health service mental health in-reach teams working in prisons is to ensure effective through-care for prisoners with serious mental health problems, to be followed up by support from appropriate mental health services on release.

NHS Premises (Accidental Injury)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from accidental injury on NHS premises were recorded in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The number of fatal injuries on national health service premises reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in each financial year since 1997–98 are shown in the table. The figures are for work-related injuries. This covers workers (employees and self-employed people) who are injured at work or in connection with their work, and members of the public (including hospital patients) injured as a result of the work activity of someone else. Injuries arising directly out of the conduct of medical treatment by a doctor or dentist are not reportable to HSE.
	
		Fatal injuries on NHS premises as reported to all enforcing authorities, 1997–98 to 2002–03(80)
		
			  Workers Members of the public Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 — 8 8 
			 1998–99 — 14 14 
			 1999–2000 — 17 17 
			 2000–01 1 16 17 
			 2001–02 — 11 11 
			 2002–03(80) — 15 15 
		
	
	(80) Provisional.
	Note:
	Figures relate to Great Britain.
	Source:
	Reports to Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS Professionals accepts NHS staff with work permits to work as agency staff.

John Hutton: Under current Home Office regulations, national health service staff employed under work permit arrangements are not permitted to undertake supplementary employment through a recruitment agency.

NHS Trusts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many trust franchise managers have terminated their contract before its expiry; and what action has been taken against them in each case;
	(2)  under what circumstances a franchise manager appointed to run a zero star trust may terminate his three year contract to manage that trust (a) without a penalty and (b) with a penalty; and what penalty can be applied by (i) the trust and (ii) the Department.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 February 2004
	National Health Service franchise contracts are a matter for agreement between the individual concerned and his/her employer. Questions relating to specific clauses within such contracts can be answered only by these parties.
	The Department has no remit to apply a penalty to the chief executive of a franchised trust should he/she choose to terminate his/her contract before it is due to finish.
	The chief executives of two franchised trusts have terminated their franchise contracts before they were due to finish. Any subsequent action taken as a result of this is a matter for their employers.

Nursing

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many nurse practitioners he estimates are required to ensure compliance in England with the European working time directive;
	(2)  how many nurses of an appropriate grade work as nurse practitioners to cover doctors in training in the NHS.

John Hutton: It is not possible to estimate a figure for the number of nurse practitioners required, as ensuring compliance with the working time directive (WTD) requires a range of different approaches in different trusts and services, only some of which will require nurse practitioners to be employed.
	The 20 WTD pilot projects currently in progress include seven employing nurse practitioners and five more which have developed senior specialist nurse roles. Examples of these are nurses trained as first assistants in surgery, as perioperative surgical practitioners, as specialist mental health nurses, and as pre-admission nurses. These pilots have shown that nurse practitioners and nurses in specialist roles can be extremely effective at both helping a trust to achieve compliant rotas and improving the quality of patient care. In all of these pilots, however, the nurses' roles are combined with changes to medical staff working patterns, and changes to service delivery, which together improve WTD compliance.

Nursing

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rate is for the nursing grades that cover nurse practitioners for each strategic health authority in England.

John Hutton: It is not possible to identify nurse practitioners within the vacancy information collected. The rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for all qualified nurses was 2.9 per cent. in March 2003, down from 3.9 per cent. in 2000.

Nursing Homes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in nursing homes receive (a) higher, (b) medium and (c) lower level band funding in (i) England and (ii) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in nursing homes receive continual help funding; what the criteria are for determining eligibility for such funding; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Data on the number of people receiving each band of national health service funded nursing care are not collected centrally. There are roughly 20,000 people in nursing homes, at any one time, who are in receipt of fully funded NHS continuing care. All strategic health authorities have recently agreed fully funded NHS continuing care eligibility criteria that apply in their area.

Operations

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were performed in NHS hospitals to correct mistakes made in previous operations through (a) error and (b) misdiagnosis in each year from 1990 to 2002.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.
	However, the Government have established the National Patient Safety Agency to improve the safety of national health service patient care by promoting an open and fair culture and by introducing during 2004 a national reporting and learning system for adverse events.

Organ Donor Register

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people signed onto the organ donor register.

Rosie Winterton: People are encouraged to join the organ donor register through a number of initiatives, including when they apply for a driving licence, register with a new general practitioner, or apply for a new passport. Additionally, UK Transplant runs publicity campaigns and targets action to raise the profile of organ donation, including specific advertising and information campaigns to increase organ donation from the South Asian and black African and Caribbean populations.
	UK Transplant is currently running a pilot scheme with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to send out organ donor registration forms to all vehicle owners with the road tax reminder during January, March and April this year. The pilot will cover nine million vehicles and UK Transplant will assess the effectiveness of the pilot later in the year.
	There are currently over 11 million people on the register—19 per cent. of the United Kingdom population.

Osteoporosis

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve services for people with osteoporosis in the South West.

Rosie Winterton: National action to improve services for people with osteoporosis is being taken forward through the work of the orthopaedic services improvement team, part of the National Health Service Modernisation Agency, and implementation of the national service framework (NSF) for older people. The prevention, treatment, care and support of those at risk of osteoporosis are important components in the delivery of the integrated falls services that the NSF requires to be in place locally by April 2005.
	In the South West, the responsibility for commissioning services for people with osteoporosis rests with individual primary care trusts. Local programmes are being developed as part of the NSF to improve services for older people and prevent falls, which includes action on osteoporosis. For example, in South Devon an initiative called Osteoporosis South Devon was launched in October 2002 and is a new service for primary and secondary care to identify those at higher risk of osteoporosis.
	Action is also being taken across the region to prevent the onset of osteoporosis. To this end, a South West regional physical activity group has been set up, which is developing a sport and physical activity plan for the South West.

Osteoporosis

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue guidelines on the treatment of osteoporosis.

Stephen Ladyman: The anticipated publication date for the guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of technologies for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is June 2004. A clinical guideline is also in preparation on the assessment of fracture risk and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk. The anticipated publication date for this guidance is June 2005.

Osteoporosis

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the preliminary recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the drug treatment of osteoporosis.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence's consultation document does not constitute its formal guidance on this technology appraisal: the recommendations are preliminary and may change after the consultation. As a registered stakeholder of the guidance, the Department has responded to the consultation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Overseas NHS Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of overseas staff working in the NHS.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the reorganisation of the Department will improve the response time to (a) parliamentary questions and (b) ministerial correspondence.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's change programme is seeking to improve the quality and timeliness of response to parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence by centralising expertise.
	Since the formation of the Department's customer service centre, there has been steady improvement during 2003 towards Whitehall standards and this is expected to continue as the centre expands to take on all departmental ministerial correspondence.

Patient Records

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to centralise the holding of patients' records; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The national programme for information technology is responsible for introducing the National Health Service care record service (NHS CRS), which will lead to the NHS having an integrated, electronic record management service for the first time. The NHS CRS will provide each patient with a single, comprehensive set of electronic medical and care notes. This will enable all authorised clinicians involved with the care of a patient, to see and share health information. Local practices and hospitals will continue to hold detailed local records, but additionally a summary health record will be created containing essential data such as allergies, current treatments or medication.
	The NHS CRS will also ensure that key data and information is entered only once and then available to multiple users and professionals who are authorised to access. It will support better clinical decision making, remove the need for repeat and potentially harmful tests simply because the previous record is lost or not available and improve the quality of the time spent with the patient.
	The security and confidentiality of patient information is an absolute priority in the context of electronic records and transmissions. Within the contracts for new applications, systems and services being negotiated with IT suppliers are stringent terms around ensuring security, control, alerts and audit measures, including encryption. We will have a right to terminate the contract of any supplier that fails to deliver the high standards that NHS patients and professionals are entitled to expect.

Performance Indicators

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the full details of the 2003–04 NHS performance indicators for (a) acute and specialist trusts, (b) primary care trusts, (c) mental health trusts and (d) ambulance trusts.

John Hutton: The national health service performance ratings for 2003–04 will be published by the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection. The indicators to be used for the 2003–04 ratings were published by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) on 18 December 2003. Full details can be found on the CHI website at www.chi.nhs.uk.

Performance Indicators

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the official definitions are of (a) NHS performance indicators, (b) NHS targets and (c) NHS standards.

John Hutton: National health service performance indicators are now published by the Commission for Health Improvement as part of the NHS performance ratings. They measure service quality and progress in areas of importance to patients and the public. The performance ratings system assesses trusts' performance on these indicators.
	Targets are the level of service that the Government expects all NHS organisations to achieve and are set out in the priorities and planning framework for that year.
	The standards will define levels of service quality, which those providing or commissioning English NHS health services should seek to achieve. The performance of the NHS against those standards will be assessed against criteria to be set by the independent Commission for Health Care Audit and Inspection.

Prescriptions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the NHS Plan target for the electronic transmission of prescriptions.

Rosie Winterton: The electronic transmission of prescriptions is one of the core programmes within the national programme for information technology (NPflT) in the national health service in England. The electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) programme will enable prescribers to create and transfer prescription data electronically to a patient's community pharmacist and the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA). As well as being more convenient for the patient (for example in relation to repeat prescriptions), this will improve safety by reducing prescription errors and providing better information at the point of prescribing and dispensing. It will also ensure that information about what has been prescribed and dispensed forms part of each person's NHS care record. In addition, ETP will deliver important administrative improvements.
	The NHS Plan did not contain a specific target in relation to the electronic transmission of prescriptions. We are working towards the timetable for implementation contained in "Delivering 21st Century IT Support in the NHS". This stated, "the National Prescriptions Service will be 50 per cent. implemented by December 2005 and fully implemented by December 2007". This work is being taken forward by the NPfIT in the NHS.
	Key elements of the electronic transmission of prescriptions system have been procured as part of the recently concluded NHS care records service procurements. Work is now focusing on how community pharmacies can be connected to the system, and how their pharmacy computer systems can be upgraded to comply with the requisite technical specification. It is intended that deployment of the live system will commence in January 2005.

Primary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of care provided by co-operatives and other organisations providing out-of-hours primary care services.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring that providers of out of hours care in their area provide a high quality, safe service, through the system of accreditation.
	Accreditation ensures that providers meet nationally set quality standards, including clinical governance. Providers must report regularly to PCTs on performance, and strategic health authorities performance manage PCTs in their delivery of out of hours services.
	All organised providers of out-of-hours services will be accredited by March 2004. Thereafter, they will be subject to re-accreditation at least once every three years, unless an accrediting PCT has grounds to lead it to initiate an earlier re-accreditation. Provider assessment is undertaken by a PCT outside the area that is covered by the provider, to ensure impartiality.
	Under the new general medical services (GMS) contract everyone who provides services out of hours, including individuals contracted by the PCT, as well as organisations, will need to meet the national quality standards. These standards are currently under review by an expert group to make them an integral part of GMS and personal medical services contracting.

Primary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse incidents he estimates occurred in co-operatives and out-of-hours primary care services in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Information on the number of adverse incidents that occurred in co-operatives and other out of hours primary care services are not held centrally. Primary care trusts (PCTs) and before them, health authorities, are responsible for ensuring that out of hours services are provided to the highest standard. Since October 2002, the performance of all providers of out of hours services have been judged against nationally set quality standards, including clinical governance. Providers must report regularly to PCTs on performance and are re-accredited at least once every three years, unless an accrediting PCT has grounds to lead it to initiate an earlier re-accreditation. Strategic health authorities performance manage PCTs in their delivery of out of hours services.

Renal Services

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital allocation has been made available in 2003–04 for the development of renal services in (a) Merseyside and (b) Cheshire.

Melanie Johnson: In 2003–04, the total renal capital allocation for Cheshire and Merseyside was £504,000.

Renal Services

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available in 2003–04 to the local health authorities in (a) Merseyside and (b) Cheshire for the development of renal services.

Melanie Johnson: In 2003–04, £3 million was identified by primary care trusts (PCTs) for investment into the development of renal services to support Cheshire and Merseyside renal patients. This is revenue funding and does not include the national renal capital funding. It is in addition to the PCT baseline investment.

Respiratory Disease

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total expenditure on respiratory disease in terms of (a) hospital expenditure, (b) primary care expenditure and (c) pharmaceutical expenditure for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on expenditure on respiratory disease is not collected centrally. The British Thoracic Society published their report in November 2001 entitled "The Burden of Lung Disease". The report estimates the total cost of respiratory disease to the national health service to be £2,576 million. It estimates that approximately £647 million is spent on primary care, £1,062 million is spent on hospital inpatient care, £18 million is spent on hospital day case care, £40.7 million is spent on hospital outpatient care and £800 million is spent on prescriptions relating to respiratory disease.

Restructuring/Change Programme

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected expenditure is on redundancies arising from the restructuring and change programme.

Rosie Winterton: Initial expenditure on voluntary redundancies is £9.1 million. The amount of further expenditure will depend on a number of factors, including the level of transfers to partner organisations, the amount of natural wastage and the number of staff the Department is able to re-deploy.

Restructuring/Change Programme

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated total cost is of the Department of Health reorganisation and change process; and whether this figure includes monies to address (a) planning, (b) evaluation, (c) retraining and (d) relocation.

Rosie Winterton: Total costs in the implementation period October 2003 to October 2004 are estimated at £13.7 million. This includes external consultants support in planning the implementation and evaluation as well as support for staff. This figure also incorporates initial expenditure on voluntary redundancies of £9.1 million. Relocation costs cannot be quantified until appointments have been made.

Restructuring/Change Programme

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be spent on (a) external consultants and (b) the process of transferring service provision to other Government Departments, arm's length bodies and local health authorities as part of the Department's change programme.

Rosie Winterton: We expect to spend £1.25 million on external consultants in the change programme implementation period from October 2003 to October 2004. Staff support in managing change, recruitment and in seeking alternative employment is estimated at £2.35 million in the same period.

Restructuring/Change Programme

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected social costs are of the restructuring proposed for the Department of Health in relation to (a) redundancies, (b) relocation of staff and (c) the impact of these issues on areas of high unemployment.

Rosie Winterton: The impact of unnecessary redundancies will be mitigated by a vacancy freeze (in place since last summer) and active redeployment of staff to alternative posts, either within the health and social care system or within the civil service.
	Funds will be available to support the relocation of staff. The Department is committed to maintaining the proportion of posts it currently has in Leeds.

Restructuring/Change Programme

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department has conducted an impact assessment as outlined in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, prior to the significant departmental changes that may affect the Department's staff.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has identified the potential impact of the change programme on the promotion of race equality, has consulted upon and put in place processes to mitigate any adverse impact and is monitoring implementation.

Restructuring/Change Programme

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental staff will be transferred to departmental arm's length bodies under the Change Programme.

Rosie Winterton: Provisionally, several hundred posts are designated for transfer to other organisations, including arm's length bodies, which are themselves currently under review.

School Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurse whole-time equivalents are employed in each of the primary care trusts in Sussex; and what their responsibilities are.

Rosie Winterton: The information on the number of school nurses and whole-time equivalents employed in each of the primary care trusts in Sussex is not collected centrally.
	However the number of qualified nurses employed in each primary care trust (PCT) in the Sussex area, which includes school nurses, is shown in the table.
	
		All NHS qualified hospital and community health service nurses and GMS practice nurses employed by unrestricted principles and equivalents (UPEs)(81) in the specified organisations as at 30September 2002
		
			  Whole time equivalent Headcount 
		
		
			 Total of specified organisations 1,325 2,061 
			 5FH Bexhill and Rother PCT 107 153 
			 5FJ Hastings and St. Leonards PCT 94 151 
			 5FK Mid-Sussex PCT 116 197 
			 5L8 Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT 280 418 
			 5L9 Western Sussex PCT 283 443 
			 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 65 110 
			 5LT Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 218 335 
			 5MA Crawley PCT 94 135 
			 5MC Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT 70 119 
		
	
	(81) UPEs includes QMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	Sources:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	School nurses' responsibilities cover children in the five to 16 age group in areas, which include general health care, drop-in cases, child protection, vaccinations, health checks, referrals on to general practitioners, target health checks (such as hearing tests), as well as requests from schools, one to one for parent or child.

Scrutiny Committees (Costs)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1362–63W, what the resource implications are to (a) local government and (b) the NHS of the requirement for national services within the NHS to consult Overview and Scrutiny committees when they wish to change a national service; and whether a regulatory analysis of the system has been published.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to assess the resource implications for local government or national health service organisations in relation to the requirement for overview and scrutiny committees to be consulted on changes to national NHS services, since each circumstance will lead to a different set of arrangements. It is right that substantial changes are appropriately consulted upon and that both local government and the NHS treat that consultation as a priority for local people affected by any proposed change. Local government and the NHS locally should set aside funding to ensure that such changes do receive rigorous consultation to ensure local people's interests are taken into consideration.
	To date, there has not been any regulatory analysis of the work of overview and scrutiny committees in relation to health services. The Department is making a one-off payment to the Centre for Public Scrutiny to undertake a programme of work to support and enable health scrutiny by local government. Part of the three-year programme will be to put in place an evaluation of health scrutiny, including health service consultations, and to assess the outcomes for local people resulting from the input of overview and scrutiny committees.

Secure Beds (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) secure beds and (b) non-secure beds are available in Lancashire Care Trust; and what percentage is in use in each case.

Melanie Johnson: The information is not collected in the form requested.

Sex Lottery Campaign

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what publications and media outlets were used in the sex lottery campaign; and how often each outlet was used.

Melanie Johnson: The Sex Lottery campaign has been carefully designed to target young adults, aged 18 to 30, who are most at risk from sexually transmitted infections and who would benefit from increased information and awareness raising. A variety of publications and media outlets have been used to reach this audience, and a full detailed list has been placed in the Library.

Spinal Foundation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to facilitate referrals by general practitioners to the Spinal Foundation;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for future funding of (a) services and (b) research provided by the Spinal Foundation.

Stephen Ladyman: We currently have no plans to provide further funding to the Spinal Foundation.
	Decisions on whether or not an individual patient should be referred to the Spinal Foundation is a matter for the clinician involved in the patient's care and is not something the Department would become involved in centrally.

Streptococcal Infections

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures his Department has collated on the number of cases of Group D streptococcus in each of the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: Almost all group D streptococcal infections in humans are associated with enterococci or 'Streptococcus bovis group'. Data received by the Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre under a voluntary reporting system are shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Annual totals for England and Wales
		
			  Number of reports of enterococci isolated from blood stream Number of reports of 'Streptococcus bovis group' isolated from blood stream 
		
		
			 1998 3,049 160 
			 1999 3,208 173 
			 2000 3,648 161 
			 2001 4,312 196 
			 2002 4,855 215 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency website: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/bacteraemia/gram pos.htm
	Information for hospital episode statistics is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2: Streptococcus group D (ICD10 B95.2) as the cause of diseases classified to other ICD10 chapters—All diagnosis count of episodes. Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs)—NHS hospitals in England, 1998–99 to 2002–03
		
			  Finished consultant episodes 
		
		
			 1998–99 381 
			 1999–2000 479 
			 2000–01 542 
			 2001–02 572 
			 2002–03 707 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. These figures represent a count of all FCEs where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (7 prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
	2. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Stroke

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimated NHS spending was on (a) treatment of stroke patients, (b) research on strokes and (c) stroke rehabilitation in 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on national health service spending on the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke is not collected centrally. Primary care trusts (PCTs) receive unified allocations to cover the costs of hospital and community health services, discretionary funding for general practice staff, premises and computers and primary care prescribing.
	The level of funding made available for the drugs, staffing and other costs of providing stroke services are determined locally. It is for PCTs, in partnership with local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations, including those with stroke.
	Management of much of the research supported by NHS research and development funding is devolved and expenditure at project level is not held centrally by the Department. The main agency through which the government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC spent an estimated £4.9 million on stroke research in 2002–03.

SunSmart

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the SunSmart campaign for 2004 will be launched.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The SunSmart campaign, run by Cancer Research UK on behalf of the United Kingdom Health Departments, will be launched in spring 2004.

Transmissible Spongiform Encepthalopathy

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what precautions are in force to protect people from the risk of transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies through surgical instruments.

Melanie Johnson: Advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathies advisory committee indicates that good decontamination is key in reducing the risk of person to person transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) through surgical instruments.
	A circular (HSC 2000/032) was issued to the national health service on 18 October 2000, emphasising the importance of effective decontamination in preventing the spread of vCJD. In addition, the Department has surveyed the effectiveness of decontamination services and taken action to ensure all NHS hospitals in England had access to decontamination services of an acceptable standard by December 2001.

Unlicensed Drugs (Children)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to restrict the prescription of unlicensed drugs to children.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans to impose a general restriction on the prescription of unlicensed medicines to children.
	Most medicines have only been tested for safe and effective use in the adult population and there are comparatively few medicines on the market that are specifically licensed for the treatment of children. This leads to prescribers having no option but to prescribe unlicensed and off-label medications in this patient population.
	Normally, if a product has not been licensed for use in children because of a lack of clinical trial data and/or clinical experience, the summary of product characteristics contains statements to this effect and use in children is not recommended. However, further restrictions (contraindications) have been introduced with respect to the off-label or unlicensed use of specific medicinal products where there is evidence that the benefit/risk may be unfavourable.
	The real solution to this problem lies not in restricting paediatric prescribing but in stimulating the development and testing of appropriately formulated medicines for use in the paediatric population. It is expected that the European Commission will adopt a proposal for a Regulation on medicines for paediatric use by the end of April 2004. It will contain a number of incentives and obligations to stimulate the development of medicines for children. In the mean time officials have been asked to develop a UK strategy to deliver, in the short and medium term, improved availability of medicines that are appropriately labelled and appropriately formulated for use in children.

Wind Turbines

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has commissioned into the health effects of living close to wind turbines.

John Hutton: The Department has not funded any work in this area.

Working Time Directive

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the European Working Time Directive pilot sites have a full complement of (a) senior specialist nurses and (b) nurse practitioners to cover doctors in training.

John Hutton: The Working Time Directive (WTD) pilot sites are managed by the Modernisation Agency (MA) as part of the wider work on WTD implementation. I understand from the MA that it is not possible to say what constitutes a full complement of these nurses, as each trust and service will have specific needs to be determined locally.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Council Tax Benefit

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners were eligible for council tax benefit in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Chris Pond: Between 43 per cent. and 46 per cent. of pensioners in Great Britain were either in receipt of, or were entitled to but not receiving, council tax benefit in financial year 1997–98. Approximately 48 per cent. of pensioners are estimated to be entitled to council tax benefit in 2003–04.
	Notes:
	1. Pensioners are defined as either a single person aged at least 60 or, if within a couple, at least one person is aged 60 years or above.
	2. Pensioners in Residential Care and Nursing Homes are excluded from the estimates.
	3. The estimate for 1997–98 is presented as range to reflect the uncertainty in the number of estimated entitled non-recipients based on Family Resources Survey data.
	4. The estimate for 2003–04 is based on the Department's Policy Simulation Model (PSM), which makes use of 2001–02 Family Resources Survey data projected forward to 2003–04 to estimate the extent of council tax benefit entitlement for each pensioner unit in the survey.
	5. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for tenure type, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates, particularly for 2003–04, are subject to sampling error and remaining response bias.

Council Tax Benefit

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to introduce assessed income periods for pensioners claiming council tax benefit; and what estimate he has made of the cost of this change.

Chris Pond: The assessed income period (AIP) applies in pension credit. It is a period, normally five years, during which pensioners aged 65 or more will not need to report to the Pension Service changes to the money they have set aside for their retirement.
	There are no plans to introduce similar arrangements for council tax benefit and therefore no estimate of cost has been made. However, the requirement for pensioners to complete annual reviews in housing and council tax benefit claims was removed in October 2003, and will be abolished for all other housing and council tax benefit recipients from April 2004.

Council Tax Benefit

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a single short form specifically for pensioner home owners claiming council tax benefit.

Chris Pond: We have already introduced a streamlined housing benefit/council tax benefit claim form for pensioners (HCTB1(PC)), and are currently considering the introduction of a council tax benefit claim form designed specifically for use by pensioners who do not require housing benefit.

Benefit Appeals

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals were made against decisions made on (i) disability and (ii) sickness benefits in each year since 1997; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the primary decision-making process for (A) disability and (B) sickness benefits.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		Appeals against decisions made on the key disability and sickness benefits
		
			 Benefit type and appeal tribunal decision 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 
		
		
			 Incapacity benefit successful appeals 22,055 18,145 15,185 16,845 Not available Not available 
			 Incapacity benefit unsuccessful appeals 24,155 22,910 19,385 24,545 Not available Not available 
			 Attendance allowance successful appeals 3,480 3,960 5,035 3,440 2,455 2,300 
			 Attendance allowance unsuccessful appeals 4,135 4,350 5,640 4,180 2,635 2,410 
			 Disability living allowance successful appeals 36,855 39,495 45,165 31,065 25,170 20,330 
			 Disability living allowance unsuccessful appeals 32,095 32,510 40,200 31,410 25,810 21,980 
		
	
	For comparison purposes, the total number of beneficiaries of each benefit for each year is shown as follows rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	
		
			  DLA AA IB 
		
		
			 August 2003 2.5 1.4 1.5 
			 August 2002 2.4 1.3 1.5 
			 August 2001 2.3 1.3 1.5 
			 August 2000 2.2 1.3 1.5 
			 August 1999 2.1 1.3 1.5 
			 August 1998 2 1.2 1.6 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP statistics, given for 31 August for each year shown.
	The Secretary of State publishes an annual report on decision-making standards in the Department for Work and Pensions. Copies are available in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the regional variation in (a) housing benefit, (b) income support and (c) jobseeker's allowance fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: We are committed to driving down levels of fraud and error in the benefits system, including tackling regional variations; and there are a number of specific initiatives within our agencies to achieve this.
	The latest published national statistical report 'Fraud and Error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance from April 2001 to March 2002' provides a breakdown of estimates of Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance fraud by each Government Office Region. A copy is available in the Library.
	We cannot provide an estimate of the regional variation in Housing Benefit fraud because the measurement sample only supports a national estimate.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual level of (a) detected and (b) undetected benefit fraud in each of the last six years.

Chris Pond: We estimate that approximately £2 billion per annum is overpaid as a result of fraud.
	We make regular estimates of the total amount of fraud overpayments on Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit and the results are published as National Statistics.
	Our estimates of levels of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are published in the series of reports "Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance."
	For Housing Benefit, we published "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to March 2003" on 11 December 2003. This report represents the first national headline estimates, for the level of fraud and error in Housing Benefit, derived via the statistical analysis of data collected by the Housing Benefit Review (HBR) continuous measurement exercise. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued regarding joint prosecution for benefit fraud with local authorities;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to local authorities about undertaking joint prosecutions with the Department of Work and Pensions for benefit fraud.

Chris Pond: Comprehensive guidance is provided to fraud investigators in this Department and in local authorities in the form of the Fraud Procedures and Instructions (FPI) Manual. Guidance on joint proceedings with local authorities was updated in June and August 2003, with additional specific guidance on joint prosecutions also issued in August 2003.

Benefit Fraud

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many joint prosecutions have been undertaken by the Department with local authorities on benefit fraud in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority;
	(2)  how many joint prosecutions with local authorities for benefit fraud have been suspended in the last three months.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the office of the Deputy Prime Minister about the implications of the Howell Opinion on joint prosecutions for benefit fraud.

Chris Pond: There have been no discussions concerning the implications of the Howell Opinion with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. However, Department for Work and Pensions lawyers and officials are continuing to work on the implications of the Opinion to ensure that effective joint working between DWP and local authorities may continue within the existing statutory framework.

Benefit Payments

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of benefits have had their payments made to (a) standard bank or building society accounts, (b) bank or building society basic accounts and (c) Post Office card accounts.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) child benefit recipients, (b) pensioners and (c) other benefit recipients received payments (i) into bank accounts, (ii) into Post Office Card Accounts and (iii) through post offices using pension and benefit books at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: holding answer 8 December 2003
	The information in the table shows the current number of live accounts, by benefit group, actively paid by Direct Payment into a bank or building society account, and Post Office card account.
	
		
			 Benefit Accounts paid by Direct Payment (excluding Post Office Card Account) Accounts paid to Post Office Card Account Accounts paid by order book 
		
		
			 Working Age Benefits 1,818,507 51,560 2,683,926 
			 Disability and Carer's Benefit 1,476,640 8,133 1,534,277 
			 Retirement Pension 5,474,797 42,561 5,606,745 
			 Child Benefit 4,848,029 52,053 1,938,727 
			 War Pensions 138,790 2,753 99,447 
			 All Benefits 13,756,763 157,060 11,863,122 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. This table has been derived from a number of different sources.
	2. The Ministry of Defence is now responsible for payment of War Pensions benefit—they provided the figure for Accounts paid to Post Office Card Account up to 22 October 2003.
	3. The figures relate to accounts not customers.
	4. They only include customers actually receiving an amount in payment.
	5. We cannot differentiate between standard bank or building society accounts and basic bank accounts.
	6. The table details figures for GB only.
	Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

Benefit Rights

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review all advertisements encouraging retired people to take up their benefit and tax credit rights in order to ensure that they are clear, unambiguous and accurate; and if he will withdraw advertisements that fail in these respects.

Malcolm Wicks: We constantly review advertising throughout a campaign to ensure it is working effectively—so that we can take appropriate action if necessary.
	DWP national advertising is checked for clarity, comprehension and accuracy prior to publication or broadcast to ensure that our approach is clear and will generate the desired response. This may involve focus group research among representatives of the target audience and clearance by the relevant broadcast standards authorities. The process can also involve Departmental consultation with key stakeholders such as Help The Aged or Age Concern. Major campaigns also use tracking research to identify any issues of clarity, comprehension and accuracy, in order to optimise campaign performance and ensure that the public have clear and timely information on entitlements and benefits.
	Some local advertising, for example one-off local newspaper advertisements informing the public about outreach events, does not follow this process, as the advertisement just highlights the details of the event. It would not be cost effective to adopt the approach above in these cases.
	The Department is not responsible for advertising tax credits.

Benefit Rights

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of (a) disability and (b) sickness benefits.

Maria Eagle: The Department continually strives to ensure that its customers are aware of any potential entitlement to disability and sickness benefits. The Department publishes a wide range of literature and this is available from numerous easily accessible sources such as offices of the Department, some post offices, doctors' surgeries or advice centres. These, together with free telephone helplines/ensure that the public have sufficient information to enable them to make informed decisions about disability and sickness benefits.
	The Department has a national, regional and local outreach programme in place that aims to promote and raise awareness about availability of services. The Department also meets regularly with partners from local authorities and welfare rights organisations that represent customers with physical, mental and sensory impairments, to ensure that they are kept up to date with our initiatives to modernise the delivery of benefits.
	Expert advice is also available from advisers in Job Centre Plus offices which are rolling out over the next two or three years or Social Security offices, about all the benefits that can be claimed by people of working age and about the best steps for moving towards work.
	For people with internet access information about all benefits and how these may be claimed is also contained on the DWP website.
	The effectiveness of these initiatives has, for example, contributed to the increase in the number of disability living allowance recipients by 25.4 per cent. in the five years to August 2003 and by 5.9 per cent. in the last 12 months alone.

Casual Staff

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many employees have been employed on 13-week casual appointments in Jobcentre and JobcentrePlus offices in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many JobcentrePlus staff on 13-week casual contracts were employed on these contracts for (a) the second time, (b) the third time and (c) more than the third time in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The information is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Casual Staff

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what functions are carried out by casual staff employed in offices in the South East Region; what training they receive; and what the cost of such training was in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department employs casual staff for a number of reasons, for example, to help manage peaks of work and to aid release of permanent staff for training and preparation for major business change. Information on the specific duties carried out by casual staff is not available.
	The Learning and Development provided for casual staff varies according to the job role and work undertaken by the individual. For example, those dealing with customers receive training linked to serving customers, keeping safe, equal opportunities, data protection and interviewing skills. More informal training includes working with, and observing more experienced colleagues and coaching from subject experts and line managers. In addition, many new staff have a buddy or mentor.
	Information on the cost of training for casual staff is not available.

Child Support Agency

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on reform of the Child Support Agency.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 80–82WS.

Child Support Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when existing Child Support Agency cases assessed under the old rules will be transferred to the new assessment system.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1092W.

Child Support Agency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency in (a) Angus constituency and (b) Scotland are due arrears of child maintenance; and how many have been due arrears for more than three months;
	(2)  what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken by the Child Support Agency has been to collect arrears due to persons whose cases are in the hands of the Agency in (i) the Angus constituency and (ii) Scotland;
	(3)  what amounts of arrears are due to persons in (a) the Angus constituency and (b) Scotland whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency;
	(4)  what the total amount is owed to people whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency in (a) Angus and (b) Scotland of arrears in child maintenance.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 February 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the following questions:
	how many people whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency in (a) Angus constituency and (b) Scotland are due arrears of child maintenance; and how many have been due arrears for more than three months.
	what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken by the Child Support Agency has been to collect arrears due to persons whose cases are in the hands of the Agency in (i) the Angus constituency and (ii) Scotland.
	what amounts of arrears are due to persons in (a) the Angus constituency and (b) Scotland whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency.
	what the total amount is owed to people whose cases are in the hands of the Child Support Agency in (a) Angus and (b) Scotland of arrears in child maintenance.
	The specific information that you seek is not available. However, I can tell you that there are around 600 cases within the Angus Parliamentary constituency where arrears are due and have been for more than three months. In comparison Scotland has nearly 26,000 cases where arrears have been outstanding for more than three months.

Departmental Relocation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the factors which underlay decisions to (a) relocate work and (b) close his Department's offices in the South-East Region;
	(2)  what factors underlay the decisions (a) to close offices, (b) to transfer work through relocation and centralisation and (c) not to replace permanent staff in (i) Portsmouth, (ii) Southampton and (iii) the Isle of Wight; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service are modernising the services we provide to our customers. This modernisation is increasing the number of places where people can get information about work and benefits.
	Jobcentre Plus is providing improved customer access through telephone contact centres, the internet and new, dedicated caller offices. The creation of new style Jobcentre Plus offices is providing customers with premises where they can make inquiries both about their benefits and about job opportunities in one place.
	The Pension Service has a network of pension centres, complemented by a local service delivered in partnership with local authorities and voluntary sector organisations. The Pension Service is meeting pensioners in their local communities, holding appointment and drop-in advice surgeries in places that they are familiar with, such as Age Concern and CAB outlets, local libraries and community centres.
	The purpose of these plans was to provide all the Department's customers in Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isles of Wight; in the South East Region; and in the country as a whole with a modern and efficient service. These services are being targeted where people need them after consultation with local welfare agencies, local authorities, MPs and others. Where necessary duplication of sites is being reduced, helping to ensure that the taxpayer gets value for money. Overall these plans are building on the high quality service already provided by social security offices and Jobcentres by delivering a service tailored to the specific needs of its customers.
	In determining the location of the new Jobcentre Plus offices a great many factors are taken into account. These factors include, but are not limited to, the population size and spread, the quality, cost and availability of local transport, the distance between offices, concentrations of our key customer groups, areas designated for urban renewal or other regeneration initiatives, employers' needs, labour market characteristics, the availability of suitable office accommodation, the cost of maintenance and disposal, and the availability of staff and ability to relocate existing local staff. In some cases we have found that industrial and demographic change has left our offices situated in less than ideal locations. This modernisation programme provides an opportunity to critically review where we can best locate our offices to deliver services to meet the needs of the local community.

Disability Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the entitlement to disability allowance and attendance allowance to 52 weeks for those claimants who are hospitalised.

Maria Eagle: Extending to 52 weeks the period during which disability living allowance and attendance allowance can be paid to hospital in-patients is estimated to cost in the region of £145 million a year at current rates. This figure includes the consequential costs in carer's allowance, pension credit and the income-related benefits.

Ethnic Minorities

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Department for Health to ensure fair treatment for older people from ethnic minority groups and their needs in terms of (a) income and (b) quality of life.

Malcolm Wicks: Ministers have regular contact with colleagues in Department of Health to discuss the position of older people—this would include the fair treatment of minority groups such as ethnic minorities.

Direct Payment

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2003, Official Report, column 978W, on the exceptions service, whether those individuals who do not opt for a direct payment option will be eligible for the service.

Chris Pond: Customers who have not supplied account details will be contacted at an appropriate time and the options available to them will be fully explained. This will include the fact that order books will no longer be a payment option. An alternative method of payment will be available for those who cannot operate a bank account.
	Direct Payment will be the best option for the overwhelming majority of our customers, giving them a more modern and reliable method of payment with greater choice about where and when they collect their money.
	Research has shown that 87 per cent. of all our customers and 90 per cent. of pensioners already have an account suitable for direct payment.

Housing Allowances

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the local flat-rate housing allowances agreed to date for each of the pilot areas for such allowances.

Chris Pond: The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a major structural reform designed to promote choice and responsibility within the housing benefit system. The LHA has been introduced in four local authorities and is due to be introduced to the remaining pathfinder authorities in the near future.
	The information for the pathfinder authorities currently delivering LHA is in the table.
	
		LHA rates for Teignbridge by Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA)
		
			  BRMA (£) 
			 LHA category Teign Exeter Tiverton and Crediton Torbay South Devon Plymouth Environs 
		
		
			 Shared room 53.00 55.00 50.00 54.00 51.50 50.50 
			 2 room 76.25 89.50 77.50 82.50 85.00 81.50 
			 3 room 101.00 114.00 93.00 115.50 104.00 98.50 
			 4 room 121.50 136.50 117.00 125.50 123.50 111.50 
			 5 room 136.50 141.00 124.50 143.00 130.00 124.50 
			 6 room 145.00 170.50 142.00 162.50 153.50 139.00 
		
	
	
		LHA rates for Coventry
		
			 LHA category BRMA (£) 
		
		
			 Shared room 47.50 
			 2 room 82.50 
			 3 room 98.50 
			 4 room 107.00 
			 5 room 118.00 
			 6 room 142.50 
		
	
	
		LHA rates for Blackpool
		
			 LHA category BRMA (£) 
		
		
			 Shared room 47.50 
			 2 room 75.00 
			 3 room 97.00 
			 4 room 102.00 
			 5 room 123.50 
			 6 room 139.00 
		
	
	
		LHA rates for Lewisham by Broad Rental Market Area
		
			  BRMA (£) 
			 LHA Category LondonSouth East-Central LondonSouth East-Inner 
		
		
			 Shared room 77.50 92.50 
			 2 room 147.50 200.00 
			 3 room 190.50 252.00 
			 4 room 231.00 284.00 
			 5 room 265.50 363.50 
			 6 room 381.00 437.50 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Tables show weekly LHA rates for January 2004.
	2. The shared room rate is for one room with shared living room and (a) shared kitchen, toilet and bathroom, or (b) exclusive use of kitchen/kitchen facilities, or (c) exclusive use of bathroom and toilet with shared kitchen.

Health and Safety

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce legislation to provide for greater (a) recognition and (b) powers for safety representatives in workplaces.

Des Browne: We have no plans to introduce legislation to provide for greater recognition and powers for safety representatives.
	We have recently received advice from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommending that new legislation on worker involvement and representation in occupational health and safety should not be introduced at this time. This advice, which we have accepted, recommends that Health and Safety Commission and Executive should instead concentrate their efforts on securing the agreement of social partners to principles and measures that will ensure that workers are properly involved in controlling risks to occupational health and safety. Today HSC is publishing its new strategy and out of this will shortly release a statement on worker involvement setting out these principles and working with social partners to win wider support. A copy will be placed in the Library when published.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many casual workers were employed by Jobcentre Plus in the South East region in each of the last two years; what the cost was; and what the projected numbers are for the current year.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 23 February 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the employment of casual members of staff by Jobcentre Plus in the South East. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	The information you require is in the table below. It should be noted that Jobcentre Plus operates according to the fiscal year; therefore the information includes a projection to 31 March 2004.
	
		
			 Year ending 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Casual staff engaged(82) 252 (84)250 
			 Cost(83) £3,066,634 (84)£3,716,020 
		
	
	(82) This represents the total number of contracts offered during the course of a year.
	(83) This represents the salary costs for the total number of casual members of staff in post for each month of the year.
	(84) projected
	Source:
	Financial Accounting Operations System Activity Based Information System
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation has taken place with outside interested bodies (a) prior to and (b) since the Jobcentre Plus reorganisation; and what representations he has received from groups representing (i) unemployed workers and (ii) pensioners.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 23 February 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what consultation has taken place with outside interested bodies prior to, and since, the Jobcentre Plus reorganisation. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus came into existence as a national organisation at the beginning of April 2002. The Benefits Agency and Employment Service ceased to exist at the same time. The new service is being rolled out across the country on a district by district basis. Over 350 integrated Jobcentre Plus offices are now operating across the country. Integrating the whole of the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency's services for people of working age and creating the national network of Jobcentre Plus offices will not be completed until 2006.
	As each district starts to plan for the introduction of the new integrated Jobcentre Plus, service delivery arrangements are shared with local stakeholders, MPs and others. The service delivery arrangements are shared at the initial proposal stage, amended to take account of comments received where appropriate, then shared again when approval for the plans has been given. This is an integral part of the planning process for the introduction of the Jobcentre Plus service across England, Wales and Scotland.
	District Managers are provided with a list of suggested stakeholders for this initial planning stage. These include; local MPs/MEPs/MSPs/Members of the National Assembly of Wales, local authorities, programme providers/service delivery partners, employers, Citizens Advice Bureaux, and welfare rights organisations. This list is not exhaustive and each District Manager may identify their own local stakeholders.
	As part of the consultation process District Managers may also canvass the opinions of their customers and any comments they provide will be used as part of the planning process. Representations districts receive about Jobcentre Plus service delivery plans from our stakeholders can also include those representing unemployed workers and pensioners. Any concerns or issues raised by these groups as a result of the consultation process will be addressed at district level and are fed in to each districts planning before the final decision is made for roll out of Jobcentre Plus in that district.
	Jobcentre Plus managers at all levels maintain close contact with many local and national organisations representing our client base. This enables continuous feedback concerning the services that we provide before, during and after the roll out of the new Jobcentre Plus services.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has (a) to provide new Jobcentre Plus premises for the inner city areas of (i) Portsmouth and (ii) Southampton, (b) to increase staffing levels in remaining offices and (c) to improve the furnishing in remaining offices.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hancock, dated 13 February 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning Jobcentre Plus proposals for the inner city areas of Southampton and Portsmouth. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Plans are currently being developed to roll out the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service in both Portsmouth and Southampton. Partners and stakeholders were originally consulted about these plans in June and September 2002.
	Presently, options for both cities are being vigorously pursued. While suitable premises have been identified for Portsmouth that will have the capability to deliver the enhanced services to Portsmouth customers; discussions remain commercially sensitive. Therefore, we are unable to give details of the sites under consideration. Commercial considerations also apply to Southampton, where work is ongoing.
	Jobcentre Plus is contributing to the wider DWP modernisation and efficiency agenda and the workforce planning levels agreed for Jobcentre Plus form part of this. There are no plans to change substantially the numbers of people who work in Southampton and Portsmouth Jobcentre Plus locations beyond the impact of these plans. Each Region has a share of the total Jobcentre Plus performance target with the allocation of resource budgets within Jobcentre Plus linked to expected workloads and performance targets. The headcount target for each region, and each district in that region, and each office in that district, is based on this.
	The new Jobcentre Plus service will provide a more professional and welcoming environment. When the new Jobcentre Plus offices open, they will be to the design and furnishing standard of this new enhanced Jobcentre Plus model. Existing Jobcentre offices in Portsmouth and Southampton undergo regular quarterly health and safety inspections, where the existing furnishings are reviewed.
	If there are any specific issues you wish to raise about these offices or if you would like to see the new specification in offices which have rolled out the new service, please contact Karen Gamester, the District Manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, on 01962 848887, who will be happy to assist.
	I hope this is helpful.

New Deal

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what resources are made available to New Deal advisers to provide practical advice to members of the public on the New Deal programme who are not graduates, who wish to acquire additional skills to pursue careers which require graduate level entry.

Des Browne: The primary aim of New Deal is to help people into employment as soon as possible. The advice given to non-graduate New Deal participants wishing to pursue careers requiring graduate entry level qualifications could depend on a range of factors including the person's existing qualifications, their financial situation, the availability of the training required, and the entry criteria for specific courses.
	New Deal advisers have knowledge of the local labour market and access to a range of resources to assist them in providing appropriate advice and guidance to all New Deal participants. Resources used by advisers include: careers publications, access to the internet, links with training providers and local colleges as well as Connexions/Careers Service. Someone without the relevant qualifications to start a degree or diploma course could, for example be referred to an Access Course, which can be funded under New Deal. People interested in further or higher education would also be given advice on sources of funding such as Career Development Loans, and referred to relevant educational bodies for more detailed advice on course funding.

New Deal

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what procedures are followed to ensure that training programmes and allied support within the New Deal are tailored to an individual's requirements;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that individuals are not placed on New Deal training courses that provide guidance and advice on skills the person has already acquired.

Des Browne: The New Deal is primarily a 'jobs first' programme and its success is measured through the number of people helped into work; so far nearly one million people have been helped into employment through New Deal.
	Training programmes, and other support available through New Deal, are intended to equip people with the skills needed to compete effectively in the local labour market. Effort is made to tailor courses and other support to meet individuals' requirements but this has to be balanced against the recruitment and skills needs of local employers and the likelihood of the training improving employment prospects. In circumstances where the needs of an individual cannot be met through normal contracts with training providers, one-off courses or training provision can be purchased if this is likely to improve the person's chances of getting quickly into work.
	It is not the intention of New Deal to place people on training courses that provide them with skills they already have. However, participants on the mandatory New Deal programmes may be expected to attend courses to help address their barriers to work, for example, a two-week Gateway to Work course, which provides jobsearch and motivational support.

Occupational Pensions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which trade unions he has met to discuss the future of occupational pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and I are committed to increasing consensus on pension issues by maintaining frequent contact with all our key partners in both the Trade Unions and the employer community. It is important that we all play our part in making sure that today's and tomorrow's pensioners have the level of income in retirement that they have chosen.
	Within the last two months we have met representatives from many union groups including TGWU, TUC, UNIFI, GMB, GPMU, AUT, NUT, UNISON, Usdaw, ISTC, CWU, GPM, GMBI and Amicus.
	In the next few weeks I hope to have further meetings with representatives from the TGWU and the CWU.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will rank each parliamentary constituency according to the take-up of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The most recent monthly progress report on pension credit, accompanied by tables showing the number of pension credit households in each parliamentary constituency in Great Britain, was published on 9 February. Copies are in the Library. It is not currently possible to rank constituencies according to the level of pension credit take-up since estimates of the number of eligible households are not available at constituency level.

Pension Credit

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are not receiving their pension credit entitlement in (a) Portsmouth and (b) England; and what steps his Department is taking to improve take-up.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. However, we estimate that there are approximately 3.15 million pensioner households in England likely to be eligible for pension credit. The latest monthly pension credit progress report, published on 9 February, shows that at 31 January, approximately 1.82 million pensioner households in England were receiving pension credit. As at the same date, the numbers of households receiving pension credit in Portsmouth, North and Portsmouth South were 2,555 and 3,862 respectively.
	We are currently in the main phase of our marketing campaign for pension credit and aim to have at least 3 million households in receipt of pension credit by 2006. By June 2004, we will have written to all pensioner households, explaining about the new entitlement. Direct mail is being supported by extensive TV and press advertising. From May we intend to focus campaign activity on those pensioners who are likely to be entitled but who have not responded. The Pension Service local service is playing a key role, particularly in encouraging pensioners who are less likely to take up their entitlement to apply. We continue to work closely with organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern, at both national and local level, and with local authorities.

Pension Credit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average pension credit payment is to pensioners in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK;
	(2)  what the average minimum income guarantee payment is to pensioners in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK;
	(3)  how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear, (iv) the North East and (v) the UK;
	(4)  how many pensioners were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK at the last date on which it was paid;
	(5)  how many pensioners are eligible for the minimum income guarantee in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people who are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual local authority areas or parliamentary constituencies. However, we estimate that around 250,000 pensioner households in the North East Government Office Region (GOR) and around 3.8 million pensioner households in Great Britain are eligible for pension credit. Information on numbers of pension credit recipients and average awards in the areas mentioned is given in the table.
	
		Pension credit recipients in Great Britain, the North East, Tyne and Wear, South Tyneside and Jarrow, 31January 2004
		
			  Households Individuals Average weekly award per household (£) 
		
		
			 Great Britain 2,172,280 2,610,450 43.50 
			 North East GOR 130,080 157,750 38.45 
			 Tyne and Wear 60,710 73,325 39.09 
			 South Tyneside 9,385 11,305 39.18 
			 Jarrow parliamentary constituency 4,835 5,890 38.45 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers of recipients have been rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Average weekly awards have been rounded to the nearest penny.
	3. Numbers of recipients exclude small numbers of clerical cases. At 31 January there were approximately 8,370 such cases in Great Britain, of which approximately 505 were in the North East GOR.
	4. Average weekly awards refer to the amount received by households, which may be a single person or a couple.
	Information on minimum income guarantee is not available in the form requested.
	Since 6 October 2003 pension credit has replaced the minimum income guarantee and the 1.8 million cases receiving minimum income guarantee prior to 6 October were automatically transferred to pension credit.
	Following the introduction of pension credit, some elements of the support previously provided through minimum income guarantee are now provided through local authority funding for people in care homes, and through tax credits for children. In addition, average pension credit awards are expected to be lower than minimum income guarantee because a savings credit of up to £14.79 (single) or £19.20 (couples) is available for people with modest incomes above the guarantee level who previously received nothing from minimum income guarantee.
	Information on the average weekly award and the number of minimum income guarantee recipients in the areas mentioned as at August 2003 appears in the following table.
	
		
			  £ per week Recipients (thousand) 
		
		
			 Jarrow parliamentary constituency 44.44 3.8 
			 South Tyneside 44.55 8.1 
			 Tyne and Wear 43.70 51.3 
			 North East GOR 44.30 106.2 
			 Great Britain 50.23 1,802.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage pension credit take-up in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and what part councils play in encouraging take-up.

Malcolm Wicks: Pension Credit take-up activity is continuing across Lancashire, with the help of partner organisations and local authorities.
	Activities in Lancashire include awareness talks to a wide range of organisations and regular information surgeries and publicity events. Local authorities across Lancashire have begun to use their Housing Benefit data to identify those potentially entitled to Pension Credit and have worked jointly with The Pension Service on a number of marketing activities. In Chorley, activities undertaken by The Pension service include information surgeries and publicity events in libraries, day care centres and other locations including the local hospital. These are often carried out in collaboration with local authorities.
	Formal agreement to proceed with joint teams has been reached with 13 of the 22 primary tier local authorities in the North West and it is expected that joint teams will start to become operational in the region from April 2004.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have claimed pension credit in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley.

Malcolm Wicks: Pension Credit was implemented in October 2003. The table gives numbers of recipients of Pension Credit in the North West, Lancashire and Chorley at the end of 2003 and at 31 January 2004, the latest date for which figures are available. Numbers of applications for Pension Credit are not available at regional, county or constituency level.
	
		Pension Credit recipients in the North West, Lancashire and Chorley, December 2003 and January 2004
		
			  31 December 2003 31 January 2004 
			  Households Individuals Households Individuals 
		
		
			 North West Government Office Region 288,575 343,680 296,320 354,025 
			 Lancashire county district 42,075 50,535 43,870 52,940 
			 Chorley parliamentary constituency 3,065 3,660 3,165 3,805 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. The figures exclude small numbers of clerical cases. At 31 December 2003 there were approximately 3,555 such cases in Great Britain and 505 in the North West region. At 31 January there were approximately 8,370 cases in Great Britain and 1,190 in the North West region.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many home visits have been carried out by staff of the Pension Service in connection with pension credit in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. However, approximately 250 home visits involving pension credit were undertaken in the local authority cluster including Preston Chorley and South Ribble in January 2004.

Means-testing

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total cost of administering means-testing for pensioners in 2003–04; and by how much pensions could be increased if the proceeds of abolishing means tests were transferred to pensions.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the total cost of administering means-testing for pensioners is not currently available in the format requested. In accordance with the requirements of Resource Accounting and Budgeting the Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.
	This Government's priority is to target money on the poorest pensioners. Almost half of the extra money to be spent on pensioners in 2004–05 will be spent on the poorest third.
	As a result of the Minimum Income Guarantee and now Pension Credit, the poorest third of pensioners will be around £600 per year better off on average than had the equivalent amount been spent on increasing the Basic State Pension (BSP).
	We are planning to spend around £12.6 billion in 2004–05 on pensioners through income-related benefits including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
	If this spending was transferred to pensions, the full Basic State pension could be increased by around £25 per week in 2004–05. However poorer pensioners could face large losses, losing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as well as Pension Credit. Those not eligible for the full Basic State Pension would not get the full £25 increase, and those without any entitlement to the Basic State Pension could be left with no income or state support whatsoever.

Pensioners

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pensioner population is in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures requested are in the table.
	
		
			  Pensioner population 
		
		
			 East Midlands 784,000 
			 England 6,145,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are from the Mid-Year population figures, 2002.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	3. 'Pensioner' is defined as those over state pension age.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Pensioners

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in East Devon are dependent on benefits; and what percentage of entitled pensioners in East Devon have taken up their benefits.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.
	In May 2003, 29,200 pensioners in the East Devon constituency were in receipt of a key benefit. For the majority of these, 23,200, state pension was the only key benefit being received.
	Key benefits are Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Minimum Income Guarantee, State Pension, Severe Disablement Allowance and Housing Benefit.
	As at the end of January 2004 there were 3,437 Pension Credit households in East Devon parliamentary constituency. Information on the number of people who are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies.

Pensioners

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met pensioner groups in Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: Members of the ministerial team visit Scotland to discuss pension issues and have met with pensioner groups. In addition, the Department meets with representatives from pensioner groups in Scotland on a regular basis through various channels—including the Partnership Against Poverty Scotland group and the Pensions Forum which is held annually in Scotland and which members of the ministerial team attend, the last was held in Edinburgh in October.

Pensioners

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Twickenham constituency (a) are in receipt of winter fuel payments, (b) were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee in 2003 and (c) have applied for and been granted pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Information on winter fuel payments for individual constituencies for 2003–04 will not be available until this winter's exercise is complete but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available.
	The number of pensioner households in the Twickenham constituency in receipt of minimum income guarantee in August 2003 was 1,600 and receiving pension credit as at 31 January 2004 is 1,951. Numbers of applications for pension credit are not available at regional, county or constituency level.
	Notes:
	1. MIG figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.
	2. MIG claimants are benefit units where the claimant and/or their partner are aged 60 or over, therefore figure will include some claimants aged under 60.
	3. MIG figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. and 100 per cent. sample.

Post Office Accounts

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that existing bank account holders do not have to open a different bank account in order to receive their benefits from the Post Office.

Chris Pond: The Government want as many people as possible to be able to do their banking at Post Office branches and welcomes Post Office Ltd.'s efforts to secure agreements with other banks. The decision is ultimately a commercial one which rests with the individual institutions.
	Universal banking services already provide access to the basic bank accounts of every High Street bank plus the nationwide Building Society at Post Office branches as well as the Post Office card account. In addition, more than 20 million customers of Lloyds/TSB, Barclays and Alliance and Leicester can access their accounts electronically at Post Office branches.
	Also current accounts customers of Alliance and Leicester, Barclays, Lloyds/TSB the Co-operative Bank and the internet banks smile and cahoot can access paper-based banking services which enables them to cash cheques at Post Office branches, free of charge.

State Pensioners (Overseas Territories)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people are in receipt of the UK state pension in each of the British Overseas Territories;
	(2)  if he will list those British Overseas Territories where citizens receiving the UK state pension have their pensions frozen;
	(3)  if he will estimate the cost of waiving the frozen pension rule in each British Overseas Territory in which citizens receiving the UK state pension have their pensions frozen;
	(4)  how many citizens living abroad and receiving frozen UK state pensions reside in (a) Canada and (b) the United States of America.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people in receipt of the UK state pension in the British Overseas Territories other than those living in the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus as at January 2004 is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Territory Number  
		
		
			 Anguilla 148 
			 Bermuda 560 
			 British Antarctic Territory 0 
			 British Indian Ocean Territory 0 
			 British Virgin Islands 42 
			 Cayman Islands 95 
			 Falkland Islands (including South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands) 37 
			 Gibraltar 894 
			 Montserrat 154 
			 Pitcairn Islands 0 
			 St. Helena and Dependencies 71 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 15 
		
	
	Pensioners living in the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus cannot be separately identified from others living in the Republic of Cyprus.
	Pensioners living in the countries set out in the table other than those living in Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus have their UK state pension frozen. The estimated cost to unfreeze these pensions, without paying arrears, would be less than £500,000 for 2003–04 based on a 5 per cent. sample. We are unable to estimate the cost for each territory because of the numbers affected.
	There are currently around 150,000 UK citizens now residing in Canada in receipt of a frozen UK state pension. UK citizens now residing in the United States of America do not have their UK state pension frozen.
	Notes:
	1. Caseloads are taken from the Pensions Strategy Computer System.
	2. Costs are estimated using DWP Administrative Data.

Statutory Sick Pay

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated annual total cost of compliance is in respect of the statutory sick pay scheme for employers.

Maria Eagle: Currently around 90 per cent. of employees are covered by an occupational sick pay scheme; where employers operate such a scheme, and it is more generous than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), they do not have to keep SSP records. This makes it difficult to estimate the annual total costs for employers of compliance with the scheme.
	In the most recent year for which figures are available (2000–01), the estimated expenditure for employers on SSP was £830 million.
	Notes:
	1. The figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	2. The figures are on an accruals basis and so record the year of liability of SSP payment, which is not the same as the year money was paid out.
	Source:
	Employers' end-of-year returns.

Winter Fuel Payments

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what would be the additional cost in the next financial year to public funds (a) in benefits and (b) in administrative costs of providing entitlement to winter fuel payment to all persons on reaching their 60th birthday if it falls during the months of October to March inclusive, on the assumption that those with birthdays in other months would continue to receive payment in the winter after attaining age 60.

Malcolm Wicks: If all those reaching their 60th birthday in the months of October 2003 to March 2004 were to receive a winter fuel payment for the winter of 2003–04, the additional cost would be approximately £47 million. We are unable to provide figures for the additional administrative costs that this would incur.

Winter Fuel Payments

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many British citizens not resident in the UK received Winter Fuel Payments in respect of 2003–04; how many of those previously resided in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK; and what the value of such payments was in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available. Such information that is available is as follows:
	So far 14,696 people no longer resident in the United Kingdom have received Winter Fuel Payments for the period winter 2003–04, at a cost of £2,235,700. Citizenship does not affect entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment as entitlement is based on residency in the UK.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Street Wardens

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on street warden funding in Coventry in 2004–05;
	(2)  what evaluation has taken place of the successes of street warden schemes in tackling anti-social behaviour in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Coventry;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the withdrawal of funding for the Street Warden schemes on (a) the levels of anti-social behaviour in Coventry and (b) the perceptions of safety among people in Coventry.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funds three warden schemes in Coventry. One scheme has managed to sustain itself without further funding from the department. Funding for another scheme has been offered for 2004–05 providing that the scheme continues to find match funding. The third scheme is funded from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister until March 2006.
	Evaluations of the first and second round of warden schemes, including their effect on anti-social behaviour and perceptions of safety are currently being undertaken. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to publish the first report later this year.

Agricultural Ties

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many owners of properties with agricultural ties have been forced to sell their homes because of failure to satisfy the terms of the tie, in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Where planning permission is granted for an isolated agricultural worker's dwelling, an 'occupancy' condition is normally attached in order to ensure that the dwelling is kept available for meeting the agricultural need in the area. The responsibility for attaching, monitoring compliance with, and taking any necessary action to enforce occupancy conditions rests with the local planning authority in the first instance.

Area-based Initiatives

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been allocated by his Department for each (a) region and (b) Neighbourhood Renewal Fund area for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Funding allocated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the regions can be found in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2003 Cm 590l as amended by corrigendum-corrected tables for Chapter 8, published in June 2003. These set out expenditure by region and by function for an historic five year period. No figures are available for the forward years.
	Funding by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas for the period 2002–03 until 2005–06 is available in the Library of the House. Funding plans beyond 2005–06 are subject to current Spending Review deliberations.

Civil Servants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents.

Paul Goodman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics website at http://www.civil-service. gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdf
	As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with a disability, the actual number is not published in order to protect the privacy of individuals in line with exemption 12 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".

Community Projects

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on bringing together in a single community programme the (a) Community Cohesion pathfinders, (b) Community Chest, (c) Community Empowerment Fund and (d) Community Champions Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: From April 2004, the Community Empowerment Fund, Community Chests and Community Learning Chests will be merged into the single Community Programme.
	It was not the intention to include the Community Cohesion pathfinders or the Community Champions Fund in the single Community Programme.
	The Community Cohesion Pathfinders will end in November 2004 and there are no plans to merge the fund.
	The Community Champions Fund is administered by the Department for Education and Skills and there are no plans to merge the fund.

Consultancy

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list external (a) public relations and communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since May 2002, indicating in each case the work performed.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council Housing

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total sum in local authority accounts derived from selling council houses is; how much the Southend-on-Sea local authority has in its account; and if he will review the purposes for which these funds can be used.

Keith Hill: Since 1980–81 to 2001–02, the last year for which we have audited figures, sales of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwellings for owner occupation have generated £23.490 billion in receipts for local authorities in England. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold records for the amount generated by sales in Southend-on-Sea for the entirety of this period, but from 1998–99 to 2001–02 the receipts generated were £9.603 million.
	Currently, with-debt local authorities, such as Southend-on-Sea, are required to set aside 75 per cent. of the capital receipt arising from the disposal of HRA dwellings for the repayment of their debt. They may use the remaining 25 per cent. to meet capital expenditure. Debt-free local authorities are exempt from the set-aside requirement and may use 100 per cent. of such capital receipts for any capital purpose.
	The set-aside regime, which effectively provides resources for new capital investment by authorities generally, will cease to be available from 1 April this year, when a new capital finance system is introduced. Pooling is the regime that will replace set-aside. It will apply to debt-free as well as with-debt authorities—both will be required to pay to the Exchequer 75 per cent. of their receipts from the sale of council housing, to provide resources nationally for further capital investment in housing. They will retain 25 per cent. to meet such capital expenditure as they may decide. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believe these arrangements are appropriate and currently has no intention of reviewing them further.

Council Housing

Frank Dobson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the councils which indicated that they did not want the fourth option of continuing council management of the homes to be improved during the course of the Government's Decent Homes consultation.

Keith Hill: The Government set out their 'Decent Homes' programme in "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All-The Way Forward For Housing" published December 2000. 70 housing authorities are now in the process of implementing the programme by means of PFIs, stock transfers, ALMOs and mainstream funding. The remaining authorities are to have completed the options appraisal process by 31 July 2005.

Decent Homes Standard

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance is available to local authority housing departments to meet the Government's decent homes standard.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has provided both financial and other support to assist local authorities in delivering decent homes. Over the period 2003–06 £7.9 billion is available for capital expenditure on the HRA housing stock.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also making available £1.4 billion through the Private Finance Initiative Guidance on implementing the standard and conducting options appraisals has also been published on; http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm housing/documents/page/odpm house 027345.pdf
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's "Community Housing Task Force" together with Government Offices for the Regions are currently working with local authorities to help them develop their options appraisals.
	This process is designed to help the authority put in place a plan that will deliver decent homes.

Departmental Information

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the information and public relations campaigns conducted by (a) non-departmental bodies and (b) executive agencies within his Department in each year since 1997, showing the annual cost of each campaign.

Yvette Cooper: Information on public relations and information campaigns run by the non departmental bodies and executive agencies of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Empty Houses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) empty houses and (b) homeless people there are in each local authority area, listed in descending order according to the number of empty houses.

Yvette Cooper: Latest available information, as reported by local authorities in England, is available in the Library of the House. For corresponding information in Wales, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain).

Expenditure Limits

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his Department's departmental expenditure limits for 2003–04.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made on 27 November 2003, Official Report, column 3WS.

Fire Authorities/ Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether combined fire authorities in their first year as precepting authorities will have the costs of transition taken into account when their budget is assessed.

Nick Raynsford: The Government recognises fire authorities' concerns about setting budgets for next year, not least the particular circumstances faced by Combined Fire Authorities in their move to precepting status, including the pressure arising from the need to build up reserves.
	Nonetheless, the Government remains of the view that all authorities, including Combined Fire Authorities, should be seeking to minimise council tax increases. The Government will, if necessary, use its capping powers to deal with unacceptable increases.

Fire Authorities/ Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action his Department has taken to ensure that the changes in locations of fire service control rooms do not impact on response times.

Nick Raynsford: The location of a fire and rescue command and control room does not impact on response times. Service standards for the new regional control rooms will at a minimum be equal to present practice.

Fire Authorities/ Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the guidance provided to the committees of regional fire authorities regarding the regionalisation of Fire Service control rooms.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have said they accept the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", publishedin December 2003. It believes that control rooms at regional level are appropriate for reasons of efficiency, economy, effectiveness and resilience. It is considering the views of the Practitioners' Forum, authorities and the service on the conclusions of the report and the Government's response. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

Grant Calculations

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has established a timetable for consultation on future changes to the (a) formula spending share calculation and (b) area cost adjustment to enable such changes to be made in financial year 2006–07.

Nick Raynsford: In order to provide local authorities with more stability in funding arrangements, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already said that we will not be looking to change the grant distribution formulae until 2006–07 at the very earliest.
	If it is decided that changes to the formulae should be made for 2006–07, a full consultation on options for change would take place prior to the normal settlement round for that year.

High Hedges

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation he has undertaken prior to issuing guidance on the high hedges section of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Yvette Cooper: Consultation will begin shortly on guidance and on regulations governing certain detailed procedural arrangements relating to the high hedges section of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The regulations will be laid before Parliament in time for the legislation to come into force towards the end of 2004.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the research commissioned by the Homelessness Directorate on homelessness among people from black and ethnic minority communities.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned research on homelessness among black and ethnic minority communities in February 2003. The research consisted of a literature review, interviews with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) households, local authority officers and a range of other key national and local stakeholders in order to explore the causes of homelessness and to provide best practice guidance on the most appropriate interventions for tackling and preventing homelessness among different BME groups.
	A first draft report and guidance have been produced for further discussion with a range of key stakeholders and we expect to have a final version ready for publication in three to four months time. When published, copies of both documents will be made available in the Library of the House.

Homelessness

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will publish the results of the annual return supplied by local authorities on homelessness applications by couples with dependent children;
	(2)  if he will publish the results of the annual return supplied by local authorities on homeless applications by lone-parent females;
	(3)  if he will publish the results of the annual return supplied by local authorities on homeless applications by single person male applicants;
	(4)  if he will publish the results of the annual return supplied by local authorities on homeless applications by single person female applicants.

Yvette Cooper: Two key summary tables, based on data from the 2003 annual homelessness return, have been made available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. A hard copy has been made available in the Library of the House. These include an analysis of homeless households accepted by local authorities, broken down by region and household type, distinguishing couples with dependent children and lone-parent families. Information collected about homeless applications on both the annual and quarterly homelessness returns distinguishes ethnicity, but not household type.
	Further key analyses from the annual return are being prepared and will be placed on the website once finalised.

Housing Taskforces

John Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Community Housing Task Force last met.

Keith Hill: The Community Housing Task Force generally meets up once a month to discuss and update on progress of work. The team last met on 4 February and will meet again on 1 March.

Housing Taskforces

John Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Advisory Group on Home Buying Taskforce (a) last met and (b) produced its last report; and when he expects it to be wound up.

Yvette Cooper: The Home Ownership Task Force has completed its work. The Task Force met for the last time on 30 September 2003 and its final report "A home of my own" was published on 13 November 2003. Copies of the report and executive summary are available on the Housing Corporation's website at www. housingcorp.gov.uk.

Information Technology

Richard Allan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what audit mechanisms are in place to determine whether information technology (a) hardware and (b) software products are being used properly in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: Corporate ICT services for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister HQ are provided by the Department for Transport under a Service Level Agreement which includes provision of licences, software and hardware as part of a managed service. I therefore refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) on 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 359W.
	Government Offices and the Regional Co-ordination Unit are responsible for their own IT systems. Procurement of core systems hardware and software is undertaken by the Regional Co-ordination Unit who purchase either directly from providers or via one of their outsource partners.
	Licensing of corporate-wide software is managed by the outsource providers. Such software is subject to corporate licensing agreements and is subject to similar auditing controls by the providers as mentioned in the answer referred to above.
	Individual Government Offices may also purchase non-corporate hardware and software locally. All purchases of software require prior approval from the RCU. Asset tracking software is utilised to monitor hardware and software utilisation.

Local Government

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the distribution of grants between local authorities in 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: The new system for distributing formula grant to local authorities was introduced in 2003–04 following an extensive review involving both central and local government, and a full and open public consultation exercise.
	The new system was designed to distribute grant to local authorities according to their relative circumstances—or relative need. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is satisfied that the new grant distribution system is both fair and sustainable.

Local Government

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from local authorities in the current financial year in connection with the central Government grants they have received.

Nick Raynsford: As part of the consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement 2004–05, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 454 written responses from 275 individual authorities, MPs and others. A further 34 arrived after the close of consultation. Ministers also met delegations from the Local Government Association, the Association of London Government and four groups of local authorities. Parliament has now approved the settlement which provides local authorities with a 5.5 per cent. increase in general grant.

Local Government

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will issue (a) regulations and (b) guidance to local authorities with regard to retrospective membership of pension schemes by part-time employees; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is carefully considering the case for making regulations to empower local authorities to deal with any Local Government Pension Scheme cases which have not been referred to an Employment Tribunal but which constitute a valid claim in all other respects.
	The Local Government Pensions Committee of the Employers' Organisation for Local Government, in consultation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, have issued guidance to local authorities consequent on directions from the Employment Tribunal. Further guidance in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme is being prepared. As a result, many claims lodged with Employment Tribunals have now either been struck out or are in the process of being settled by employing authorities. Some claims may be affected by certain legal issues which have yet to be resolved.

Local Government

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many copies of the leaflet entitled "How you can shape the future of local government in your area" have been distributed in (a) Cheshire, (b) Lancashire, (c) Cumbria, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) Merseyside and (f) the North West Region; and what verification has been carried out to establish how many leaflets have been received by (i) households in each of those areas listed and by what date they were delivered and (ii) electors on the electoral register in the areas listed in (a) to (f) , with reference to (A) date of the register and (B) date of receipt.

Nick Raynsford: The conduct of local government reviews, including consultation on the draft recommendations, is a matter for the independent Boundary Committee.

London Boroughs (Grouping)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London about a possible new grouping of the London boroughs.

Nick Raynsford: None.

Management Consultants

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) came into existence following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Liddell-Grainger) on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 358W. The cost of using management consultants is not separately recorded and could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

Metropolitan Authorities

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which metropolitan authorities have developed a medium term financial strategy for the next three to five years.

Nick Raynsford: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, from April 2004, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Prudential Code requires all local authorities to prepare each year estimates of their revenue and capital spending for three years ahead. They are also required to consider known significant variations beyond that timeframe. The Government strongly supports this requirement, and have given statutory backing to the Prudential Code using powers in the Local Government Act 2003.

Metropolitan Authorities

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget overspend was for each metropolitan authority in each of the last three financial years; and what estimate he has made of budget overspends for the 2003–04 financial year.

Nick Raynsford: The amount by which metropolitan authority spend has exceeded their budget forecast for 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 is as tabled. A negative figure shows that the authority spent less than their budget estimate.
	No estimate has been made of the budget overspend for the 2003–04 financial year.
	
		£000
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Barnsley -7,888 -1,702 -9,628 
			 Birmingham -9,905 -6,684 -20,046 
			 Bolton 3,083 -2,094 1,286 
			 Bradford -13,138 -10,875 -3,503 
			 Bury -4,110 -1,352 -2,311 
			 Calderdale -2,249 143 155 
			 Coventry 34,985 11,743 14,953 
			 Doncaster -8,866 -220 -296 
			 Dudley 9 390 -1,836 
			 Gateshead -8,374 14,273 11,780 
			 Kirklees -3,420 -7,468 -4,359 
			 Knowsley -996 -733 2,196 
			 Leeds -5,266 742 -2,778 
			 Liverpool 16,413 5,374 -17,949 
			 Manchester -13,045 -13,071 -12,674 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne -2,440 -1,468 -14,636 
			 North Tyneside 7,410 4,188 4,185 
			 Oldham 496 1,760 514 
			 Rochdale 220 -389 -1,887 
			 Rotherham 2,288 -2,270 276 
			 Salford 666 -549 363 
			 Sandwell -8,208 -7,744 1,179 
			 Sefton -3,987 -2,270 983 
			 Sheffield -3,864 -16,405 -19,471 
			 Solihull -3,359 1,855 -2,353 
			 South Tyneside -4,222 -5,943 -5,264 
			 St. Helens -5,165 -6,956 -2,938 
			 Stockport 1,606 -1,607 -4,647 
			 Sunderland -57,687 -5,254 4,611 
			 Tameside -3,695 -8,349 -819 
			 Trafford -19,111 -2,197 454 
			 Wakefield -8,581 -3,063 7,077 
			 Walsall 919 -4,653 -2,226 
			 Wigan -7,581 -5,575 -611 
			 Wirral 1,223 -1,057 1,855 
			 Wolverhampton -13,473 -9,636 -2,462 
		
	
	Notes:
	The data are taken from the RA budget and RS outturn forms for each year.
	The large under spend figure for Sunderland for 2000–01 is mainly attributable to a revenue receipt of £53.9 million in March 2001 being included in their accounts for that year.

Metropolitan Authorities

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which metropolitan authorities have been warned by his Department that he may apply a council tax cap for the next financial year.

Nick Raynsford: All local authorities have been put on notice that the Government considers that they can and should deliver council tax increases in low single figures in 2004–05. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not pre-judging criteria for capping and will look at authorities' budgets and council tax figures before coming to a view on capping principles.

Metropolitan Authorities

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which metropolitan authorities have been identified by the Audit Commission in the last 10 years as having serious shortcomings in their financial controls; and what action his Department has taken in each case.

Nick Raynsford: Until the Best Value framework was established by the Local Government Act 1999 and the results of Comprehensive Performance Assessments (CPAs) became available, central Government did not hold comprehensive information on which authorities the Audit Commission had identified as having serious shortcomings in their financial controls. Two metropolitan authorities now have been identified under these processes: Walsall, as the result of a corporate governance review, which found significant weaknesses in its financial processes; and North Tyneside, which scored the lowest possible rating for financial standing in its CPA.
	Both Walsall and North Tyneside received overall assessments of "poor" in their CPA assessments. In common with other authorities assessed as poor, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a lead official to work closely with each authority, and is providing support at the appropriate level to achieve recovery, including thorough advice and help with capacity building.

Mobile Phone Masts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend planning laws relating to siting of TETRA masts.

Yvette Cooper: Current planning guidance for all electronic communication developments is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also issued a Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development and has no plans to change these arrangements at present.

Planning

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on retrospective planning applications.

Keith Hill: Local planning authorities can invite a retrospective planning application for unauthorised development where they judge that there are no planning objections to it. Otherwise, authorities have wide ranging enforcement powers to control development undertaken without planning permission.

Planning

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons retrospective planning applications are treated in the same way as other applications.

Keith Hill: When development has been carried out to an acceptable standard, or it can be made acceptable by the imposition of conditions attached to a grant of planning permission, it is reasonable to enable the developer or landowner to obtain permission after the event. The considerations applying in determining a planning application will in general be the same regardless of whether or not the development has taken place.

Planning

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will impose a system of penalties for carrying out development in advance of obtaining planning applications.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are carrying out a review of the planning enforcement system in England. Retrospective planning applications, including whether any penalties should be imposed, and retrospective planning permission are part of that review. We expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.

Press/Public Relations Officers

David Curry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by Castle Vale Housing Action Trust in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by Liverpool Housing Action Trust in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Stonebridge Housing Action Trust in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many (a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. At 1 April 2003 the number of full-time equivalent staff with press or public relations responsibilities in each of the Housing Action Trusts was:
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent staff 
		
		
			 Castle Vale 1.0 
			 Liverpool 0.6 
			 Stonebridge 0.1 
			 Tower Hamlets nil

Regional Assemblies

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether funds will be allocated in 2004–05 for an information campaign on elected regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: Funds will be allocated for the financial year 2004–05, but the level has not yet been decided.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the costs of establishing elected assemblies for (a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber would be met.

Nick Raynsford: The establishment costs will be met by central Government.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Government-funded bodies other than the Government Offices for the Regions would reduce in size in a region where an elected assembly is established.

Nick Raynsford: In those regions where an elected regional assembly is established, there will be a reduction in the size of the regional office of the Housing Corporation.
	The designation of the regional chamber would be revoked. Its scrutiny and planning responsibilities, largely funded by Government grant, would pass to the elected assembly.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of establishing and implementing proposals for elected regional assemblies has been to date; and what his estimate is of the costs for the next financial year.

Nick Raynsford: No action has yet been taken to establish or implement proposals for elected regional assemblies and none will be taken in the next financial year. Costs so far have been associated with securing the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 and enabling referendums in the three northern regions.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs of abolishing regional chambers in regions where an elected assembly is established; and how those costs would be met.

Nick Raynsford: It will be for the voluntary regional chambers to decide whether they should abolish themselves. The Government will cease to pay grant to the chambers in regions with elected assemblies as the functions currently supported by grant will transfer to the new assemblies.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ensure that the size of a central Government grant to an elected regional assembly will require no assembly to precept more than the equivalent of five pence per week for a Band D council tax-payer to cover its administrative costs in its first financial year.

Nick Raynsford: The Government has already said in paragraph 5.8 of the White Paper 'Your Region, Your Choice' that "In setting the level of central Government grant, we will expect council tax-payers in any region with an elected regional assembly to contribute the equivalent of around five pence per week for a Band D council tax-payer".

Regional Assemblies

Hugo Swire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much the South West Regional Assembly has cost since its creation;
	(2)  what the budget of the South West Regional Assembly has been in each year since its creation.

Nick Raynsford: The regional chambers are voluntary bodies and may receive funding from a variety of sources. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not therefore hold information on the South West Regional Assembly's annual budget. This is a question for the Assembly itself.
	Since April 2001 the Government has paid grants to South West Regional Assembly totalling £2,626,967 in order for it to undertake scrutiny of the South West Development Agency and (since April 2003) to act as the recognised Regional Planning body for the South West Region.

Regional Assemblies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what timetable has been set for (a) printing and (b) delivery of information for the referendums on elected regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: During the passage of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister made commitments to provide information on the referendums to every household in the regions affected. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will make arrangements for printing and delivery once the orders for referendums have been approved by Parliament.

Regional Assemblies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions have taken place, and with whom, on which constituencies are being considered as sites for headquarters of a regional assembly for the North West; and which constituencies are being considered.

Nick Raynsford: No such talks have taken place. Paragraph 6.7 of the White Paper 'Your Region, Your Choice' explains that "It will be for an assembly to decide the best way to meet its accommodation requirements, including the location of its headquarters".

Regional Assemblies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regional assembly members there will be for the (a) North East, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) Lancashire; and what percentage of the population each will represent.

Nick Raynsford: Paragraph 7.7 of the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" states that "assemblies should have between 25 and 35 members". The number for each region has not been decided. However, we expect that the North East, as the English region with the smallest population would have an Elected Assembly of 25 members, while Elected Assemblies for Yorkshire and Humber and the North West would have between 30 and 35 members each.
	Paragraph 6.13 of the White Paper explains that the Government will "ask the Electoral Commission to advise on the boundaries of constituencies within regions that vote for elected regional assemblies" and the powers to do this are in the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total number of staff working in the Government Office for the Regions is; how many of those staff have been transferred to the Government Office for the Regions from other Government Departments; and how many have been recruited from outside Government Departments.

Yvette Cooper: The total number of staff currently working for the nine Government Offices is 2,742. In addition there are about 100 secondees from the private, voluntary and community and other public sector bodies. All permanent staff working in Government Offices are employed by one of the Departments which conduct business through them.

Rent Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will allow retrospective effect to be given to registered rents in cases where the Rent Service has not registered the rent within a reasonable time from application.

Yvette Cooper: There are no time limits for rent registrations in the Rent Act 1977, and there are no plans to amend the Rent Act to permit retrospective rent increases after registration.

Rent Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets he has set the Rent Service for the maximum time between application to register a rent and determination of that application.

Yvette Cooper: There is no maximum time set between receipt of a Fair Rent application and determination. However my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has set The Rent Service a target for Fair Rents of completing 87 per cent. within 40 working days of receipt.

Rent Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what redress is available to landlords in respect of rental income lost because of unreasonable delays by the Rent Service in registering a rent.

Yvette Cooper: There are no time limits set for rent registrations in the 1977 Rent Act. The Rent Service works to a target of completing 87 per cent. of Fair Rent applications within 40 working days of receipt. It is unusual for significant delays to occur, but where they have, The Rent Service has diverted resources to redress the situation.

Social Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money central Government allocated to each London borough to invest in social housing in each year since 1999.

Nick Raynsford: Information on local authority housing capital allocations and the funding provided to housing associations in each London borough since 1999–2000 is available in the Library of the House.

Social Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action the Government is taking (a) to eliminate non-decent social housing by 2010 and (b) to reduce the number of vulnerable people living in non-decent homes by 70 per cent. by 2010.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is providing both financial and other support to assist local authorities in delivering decent homes. Over the period 2003–06 £7.9 billion is available for capital expenditure on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) housing stock.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also making available £1.4 billion through Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
	Guidance on implementing the standard and conducting options appraisals has also been published.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's "Community Housing Task Force" together with Government Offices for the Regions are currently working with local authorities to help them develop their Options appraisals.
	This process is designed to help the authority put in place a plan that will deliver decent homes.
	To reduce the number of vulnerable people living in non-decent homes the Government will increase the proportion of privately rented housing stock which is in decent condition.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to encourage schemes which offer support and loan finance to homeowners who repair or adapt their properties. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will provide extra resources for home improvement agencies to help older and vulnerable home owners to remain independent in their own homes and increase the statutory protection for tenants of private landlords by seeking to establish mandatory licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation. Through a Regulatory Reform Order, local authorities have now much more freedom to help homeowners improve the condition of their homes which can include improvements to heating and insulation.

Social Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing units have been built in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each year since 2000.

Keith Hill: The social housing dwellings which have been funded via Social Housing Grant (SHG) or the Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) are as follows:
	
		SHG and LASHG unit completion figures for the North West
		
			  Number of units in year 
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Total dwellings for the North West 3,998 3,665 3,820 3,661 15,144 
			 Total dwellings for Lancashire 861 899 554 668 2,982 
			 Total dwellings for Chorley 29 15 56 14 114

South East England Development Agency

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list each project on the Isle of Wight funded by South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) in the last 12 months for which information is available, showing the (a) funding from SEEDA for each project and (b) intended outcomes of each project.

Nick Raynsford: In the financial year April 2003 to March 2004, South East England Development Agency will invest a total of £13 million on 17 projects on the Isle of Wight. The purpose of those projects is to support the sustainable economic development of the Island. Forecasted core outputs should: create or safeguard 388 jobs, create or fill 1,672 learning opportunities between three and 30 hours duration and 112 over 30 hours and create 40 new businesses while sustaining a further 12 for 12 months. The attached table applies this in more detail to individual projects.
	SEEDA has also provided £35,000 towards the Island's Community Wind project. This has funded a feasibility study which has been extended to cover use of renewable energy in refurbishment and newbuild in an estate in Newport. As well as added value through dissemination there is also a possibility of creating two jobs.

Travellers

Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether utility companies are permitted to provide services to unauthorised Traveller and Gypsy developments (a) at any time and (b) in circumstances when the local authority is challenging the development in the courts.

Keith Hill: Utility companies have duties to supply services for domestic purposes provided safety issues are met and permission to enter land is given.

Unitary Authorities

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to re-assess the funding arrangements for unitary authorities.

Nick Raynsford: In order to provide local authorities with more stability in funding arrangements, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already said that we will not be looking to change the grant distribution formulae until 2006–07 at the very earliest.

Unitary Authorities

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the funding arrangements for unitary authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 61 representations on the proposals for the Local Government Finance Settlement 2004–05 from or on behalf of Unitary Authorities.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how his Department will identify which local authorities have made sufficient progress in meeting Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 targets to be classed as excellent and exempted from requirement to submit future reports.

Phil Hope: Those authorities categorised as excellent under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment will no longer need to prepare reports under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA), but will be asked to provide a small amount of essential information that the Secretary of State needs for her statutory reporting duty under the HECA.